Sheldon School is one of the first to be granted a prestigious new status.

It is to become a teaching school, leading the training and professional development of staff.

More than 1,000 schools in England applied but only 100 were chosen by the National College for School Leadership. And Sheldon is one of only 56 secondary schools, and just three in the South West, to be selected.

Headteacher Gerard MacMahon said: “It is a great honour for Sheldon to have been selected to take on this important new role helping other schools to improve and develop teacher training.

“Teaching schools, like teaching hospitals, are expected to be centres of excellence.

“Pupils in other schools will also benefit, as Sheldon will be leading a teaching school alliance involving all the north Wiltshire secondary schools, St Mary’s independent school and two special schools.”

The University of Bath and Bath Spa University will partner Sheldon as part of the initiative. Staff will visit the National College’s Learning and Conference Centre in Nottingham in September for a formal induction.

Steve Munby, chief executive of the National College, said: “To take on this role, teaching schools like Sheldon need to be among the best in the country – outstanding in their own performance and have a track record of raising standards through school-to-school support.”

The £72 million initiative required schools to have an outstanding Ofsted rating, high-level pupil performance and an outstanding school leader.

The first year of the programme will be a design and development phase, before the teaching schools begin to work with other schools and universities to provide new staff, develop the next generation of heads, and support schools in challenging situations.