Royal Wootton Bassett Academy now expects to add newly-trained teachers to its legacy of first class pupils.

With successive outstanding ratings from Ofsted, the school has branched out with a focus on training future teachers.

Last month it was granted school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) status, which will allow it to train aspiring primary and secondary teachers without any need for a partner university from next September.

The academy, which is the lead school for the North Wiltshire Teaching School Alliance (NWiTS), began training teachers for the first time this month, but works alongside Bath Spa University to deliver a postgraduate certificate in education.

The Bassett Academy’s brand of school-led teacher training is an alternative to the mainstream university approach taken by many graduates, which gives students more time in the classroom on the way to their qualification.

Amy Dodson, 25, of Stratton, Swindon, is one of those studying with the academy and Bath Spa this year.

She said: “It’s really informative because you get a taste of the school straight away. I prefer the hands-on approach of this.”

Emma Ashton, 21, of Royal Wootton Bassett, is training in primary education.

She said: “Anything we are struggling with in the classroom can be put right by our own teachers and, vice versa, if there’s anything we are taught we need to put into practise, we can do that immediately.”

Students with the academy have a choice of schools to have placements with, which comes from the network of 11 primary and two secondary schools in NWiTS.

From next year, headteacher George Croxford and his deputy, Steve Kneller, will focus on moulding teachers they ultimately want to teach in their own schools once qualified.

Mr Croxford said: “I don’t believe there is a better education for a teacher than from current practitioners, which is what we will offer here.”

For more information, contact the school directly or follow UCAS application instructions.