Parents have been learning more about plans for the future of Parc Eglos School as it joins a prestigious teaching scheme.

Parc Eglos was officially launched as a National Teaching School last week, meaning it joins an elite group of schools in the UK that are proven to have an outstanding record.

As a result the school, which will also be known as the West Cornwall Teaching School, can now help others in the area improve their standards, working with teachers to provide training and development throughout all stages of a person's career.

The programme gives the school the opportunity to selectively choose teachers from the local area who best fit the role and develop them thoroughly.

Headteacher Brett Dye, who is now a national leader in education, said: “We have a wonderful partnership in the Southerly Point Co-operative Trust and beyond.

“This is helping all the children in the Helston area to be highly motivated and our schools to work together in looking after all the children in the Helston area and mapping out a positive future for them all.”

However, he said it would not mean the school would be taking on more trainees or newly qualified teachers, and was in fact reducing these numbers.

He added: “This strong partnership formed within the Southerly Point Co-operative Trust will also look to extend the many shared teaching projects, where children from other schools are taught in classes not just in Parc Eglos School but other schools within our Trust.

“Hence Teaching School status will not only greatly enhance the education provided at Parc Eglos School but will greatly benefit all our local schools.”

The launch gave parents the chance to hear more and ask question about how the changes will affect their child’s education, with a number of invited guests joining the celebration.

These included representatives from the National College for Teaching and Leadership, which awarded the status, and from the Learning Institute, which offers administrative help to teaching schools.

The school will be working in partnership with two other teaching schools, the Learning Institute in Roche Westward Alliance and the Bridging the Tamar Teaching School.