FIVE secondary schools have formed an alliance to help train the next generation of teachers in a bid to raise standards.

The Pavilion and Downs teaching school alliance has been established by Blatchington Mill School, Dorothy Stringer School, Hove Park School, Steyning Grammar School and Varndean School.

The schools will take a leading role in recruiting and training new entrants to the profession in a bid to raise standards of teaching in Brighton and Hove and West Sussex.

The move will allow head teachers and department heads to share best practice and create networks for teachers to discuss the best ways to teach their subject.

Rob Reed, headteacher at Hove Park School, said: “We will have the opportunity to recruit the very best teachers for the maximum benefit all of young people in our area.

"We want to ensure we have elite standards for everybody and high exams grades are a given."

Mr Reed is no stranger to collaboration with Hove Park and neighbouring Blatchington Mill School sharing teachers for A Level classes.

Ashley Harrold, headteacher at Blatchington Mill School, added: "This allow us to develop the next generation of talented leaders - which will have a profound impact on the success of young people."

The Pavilion and Downs teaching school alliance was established after backing from the Department for Education and National College for Teaching and Leadership.

Pavilion and Downs is part of a group of approximately 30 schools in England to be granted teaching school status in the latest round.

Teaching school alliances were introduced in 2011 to ensure the most talented school leaders are spotted and supported to become successful headteachers.

Councillor Tom Bewick, Brighton and Hove City Council lead member for children, young people and skills, welcomed the move.

He said: "I'm delighted our schools are joining together in this alliance. Brighton and Hove is a city of education collaboration to raise attainment and standards.

"I believe this initiative will help take forward our wider determination to reinvent the role of the local authority in school improvement."