University of Birmingham-run teacher training school to open

The first university-run secondary school that will have trainee teachers in classrooms alongside fully-qualified staff is to open in Birmingham in 2015.

More than 2,000 parents have already registered their interest for just 350 places at the University of Birmingham School in Selly Oak, where up to half its pupils will come from.

The remainder will be from Hall Green, Small Heath and Jewellery Quarter.

Universities rated "outstanding" for teaching training will run the schools.

They will be governed by a trust in which universities have majority control.

The government announced plans for the new teacher training schools in 2010 but there have been claims universities have "stepped in" to prevent a teacher trainee shortage.

'Leading centre'

The £23m Birmingham school would be the first university training school to offer secondary education, a Department for Education spokesman said.

Building work has started and it will eventually have a capacity for 1,150 pupils.

Universities rated 'outstanding' will run the schools

Prof Michael Clarke, chairman of governors, said it would be "a leading centre for teacher training" and would work closely with the university's education department, which currently trains 350 new teachers a year.

Applications from pupils to enter Year Seven opened last month and students wishing to attend Year 12, the sixth form, are now being asked to register their interest, the school said.

Principal Michael Roden said the school will be a mixed ability, co-educational state school for students aged 11-16, with a broad, academic sixth form.

There will be no entrance exams for Year Seven and all pupils will be admitted without consideration of religious, social or financial background.