A flying squad of highly experienced headteachers will be hired to work in problem schools.

The new posts of consultant headteachers have been approved by West Sussex County Council's Cabinet member for education and the arts, Neil Matthewson.

However, councillors now have the option of calling in his decision for detailed debate.

Councillor Matthewson said the three-strong team would be sent into schools to help existing headteachers in cases where the Government Office for Standards in Education had identified weaknesses.

The heads will also be put in temporary charge of schools where headteachers took early retirement and a successor had not been appointed.

Coun Matthewson said: "We are well down the league table of schools where Ofsted has identified weaknesses.

"At the moment, I think it is just five out of 300 schools but when problems arise we do need to get these resolved rapidly.

"The appointments should not be seen as a sign that schools in West Sussex are not doing well but of our determination that when weaknesses are identified, which are usually with the curriculum, we can move in quickly and support schools.

"It could be that some headteachers will find it very productive having another experienced head sitting alongside them."

The consultants will also be sent to schools where heads are on extended sick leave to make sure standards do not fall, in a move designed to ease pressure on the governors of successful schools.

Education director Richard Bunker said at present, his department seconded heads or deputy heads from other schools to take over.

He added: "Recently, however, there have been difficulties in securing these arrangements as governing bodies of successful schools have been reluctant to release staff on secondment for a range of reasons. These include the drive for raising standards and the increasing difficulty in recruiting quality supply teachers."

The cost of setting up the consultant headteacher service from September will be £59,000, rising to £98,000 for the first full year.