AN Andover school judged ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted has been awarded the status of Teaching School by the Department for Education.

The news means that Anton Junior School will become one of only 600 schools nationally and the first junior school in Hampshire selected by the government to perform this role.

Teaching schools are selected to deliver training for teachers in other local schools, as well as helping to develop student teachers.

Tom Donohoe, head teacher, and also now a ‘national leader of education’, said: “In recent years staff at Anton Junior have worked alongside countless teachers and leaders from schools all over the south of England to help them improve.

“Becoming a Teaching School means that our staff get the official recognition for the work that they do.

“This nationally recognised position recognises those excellent teachers working in schools right across our town, who have the potential and the inclination to work alongside other teachers to develop their skills.”

Tim Deery, head teacher of Portway Junior School, which works with Anton as part of the Anton Andover Alliance, said: “We are delighted to be working with Anton as part of the AAA.

“Over the past few years we have befitted enormously from working with them in a number of different ways.

“We have had teachers visiting Anton and observing their staff, worked with the senior leadership team on reviewing our own self-evaluation and they have also provided some very high quality in-service training, including some outstanding PE training.

“The opportunity of working with Anton as a Teaching School will be a real boost to all local schools and is good news for pupils across our area.”