A SCHEME to recruit PhD graduates into state schools is being introduced in Oxfordshire.

The Researchers in Schools programme will see postgraduates start their two-year on-site training in September.

The scheme has been supported by the county council’s education chief.

A pilot scheme in London led to 10 state comprehensive schools taking on 20 new trainee teachers and now applications for Oxfordshire places are open.

Councillor Melinda Tilley, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for education, said: “It’s a really good idea. Public schools have been doing it for years.

“They take the pick of the crop from universities and train them up so they are the best in their subject and then trained how to pass that knowledge on to others.”

Cherwell School, in Marston Ferry Road, North Oxford, is the centre of the Oxfordshire Teaching Schools Alliance, which will be taking part in the scheme.

Patrick Garton, the School Centred Initial Teacher Training director, said: “As the leading school-based teacher-training organisation in Oxfordshire, the Cherwell OTSA SCITT has been pleased to develop this link with the Researchers in Schools programme.”

“Our values are closely aligned.

Both organisations believe in the importance of strong subject knowledge for teachers, the significance of research at all levels of the education system and the imperative to inspire and raise aspirations for all our young people.”

Other members of the alliance include Bicester Community College, Chipping Norton School, Oxford Spires Academy and Matthew Arnold School.

Graduate recruits would spend three days a week teaching, one day a week in training and one day focused on academic pursuits.

They will come out of the twoyear programme with qualifiedteacher status and will be encouraged to stay at the schools.

Recruits in the subjects of maths and physics, where there is a shortage of teachers, will receive a salary of £40,000.

Researchers in Schools, which is sponsored by businesses including Shell, Goldman Sachs and Northern Gas Networks, said the programme aimed to raise educational achievements by using the expertise of PhD graduates and to inspire young people to go on to university.

Applications for next school year, starting in September, are open until Monday, May 4. Visit researchsinschools.org for more details.