OKEHAMPTON College has been selected to become a National Teaching School.

Teaching schools take a leading role in recruiting and training new entrants to the profession, identifying leadership potential and providing support for other schools, not least by exemplifying excellent standards of teaching.

Okehampton College is one of 52 schools in England to be granted teaching school status in the latest round.

Introduced in 2011, teaching schools are all rated as ‘outstanding’ in their Ofsted reports. They work with partner schools in an alliance to ensure high quality school-led initial teacher training and professional development opportunities for teachers at all stages of their careers.

They raise standards through supporting other schools, engage in research and development and ensure that the most talented school leaders are spotted and supported to become successful headteachers.

Daryll Chapman, principal of Okehampton College, said: ‘We are delighted to be awarded this recognition. It evidences all the successes Okehampton College has enjoyed over a number of years. We are looking forward to developing our role as a teaching school and supporting other schools within Devon.’

The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) has responsibility, in partnership with headteachers from the Teaching Schools Council, for the designation and quality of the teaching schools’ programme.

Charlie Taylor, the chief executive of NCTL, said: ‘Okehampton College should be very proud of this achievement. The school has been recognised as a centre of excellence in its area, with an outstanding performance and a track record of raising standards through supporting other schools.

‘There are now almost 700 teaching schools around the country. They are at the heart of an increasingly school-led system, leading the way in improving the quality of our teachers and helping the schools in their partnership to become even better. Like teaching hospitals, they have become centres of excellence across the country, conducting research and training teachers.’

Representatives from Okehampton College will be invited to attend a national teaching schools’ induction event in October.