A YORK school has been named as a centre for training new teachers in a scheme worth £160,000.

Oaklands School, in Acomb, will get the cash over four years, after being given the Training School status by the Government.

The school is one of seven in Yorkshire and Humberside to be awarded the title by Education Secretary Charles Clarke.

It will mean the school can now provide more placements for students training to be teachers and develop further methods of training for both newly-qualified and experienced teachers.

Deputy head teacher Dave Hewitt said: "This award is a vindication of the innovative work with trainees that we already do in school.

"It shows our commitment to the development of our own staff and to the shaping of the next generation of teachers."

The funding will allow the school to invest in extra resources, such as laptop computers for trainees.

They are also planning to train more of their existing staff as mentors who will help trainee and newly-qualified teachers.

The funding will also allow the school to share their methods of training with other schools in York and North Yorkshire, and develop the links they currently have with teacher training establishments, including the University of York, York St John College, Trinity and All Saints' College in Leeds, and the University of Leeds.

Oaklands School joins 76 schools which have been given the status in the latest round, bringing the total up to 244 country-wide from this week.

Previously there were 38 primary schools and 130 secondary schools designated as Training Schools across the country, including King James's School in Knaresborough.

Mr Clarke said: "These new Training Schools will be an important addition to the overall strategy of improving teaching skills and raising classroom standards.

"Training Schools are at the cutting edge of teacher training and are making a real difference."

Updated: 08:51 Wednesday, March 31, 2004