BURY'S Broad Oak High School has played its part in an award-winning teacher training scheme.

The Open University initial teacher training programme received the award, the Queen's Academic Prize, from Her Majesty earlier this year.

The scheme was launched in 1994, and this week Broad Oak saw its first two students finish their 18-month programme with the school.

Headteacher Mr Peter Jefferies said: "The Open University scheme offers benefits to both the student and the school."

Under the scheme, students work at the school for a total of 18 months, playing a full part in school life, from classroom to parents evenings.

Mr Jefferies said the students got to know the children better than in other university teacher training, which had shorter placements.

"The kids see them as a proper member of staff," he said.

The school also gets financial benefits and computer equipment, as the project has information technology at the heart of coursework.

"It was also nice to have more mature students involved, which tends to be the case with the Open University," said Mr Jefferies.

The award won by the OU scheme is described as the educational equivalent of the Queen's Award to Industry.

It is believed that Broad Oak is the only school in the area to take part in the OU scheme.

The two Open University students who trained at Broad Oak are now ready for life at the "chalkface". They are (centre, left) Mrs Angela Hoyle and (centre, right) Mrs Sharon Wilson with Broad Oak staff members Mrs Barbara Ruff and Mr Kieran Goldsbrough.

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