WORCESTER College of Technology has received a £27,000 grant to develop an innovative way of training teachers of literacy and numeracy.

The new course will be developed and delivered by the college in partnership with the School of Education at the University of Wolver-hampton, a national leader in post-compulsory teacher training.

Bursaries of £3,000 and £4,500 will be available for those taking up the part-time course. College principal Chris Morecroft said: "Worcester College of Technology is proud to have been selected to develop and introduce this new route into teaching by the National Research and Development Centre for adult literacy and numeracy. The selection is a tribute to the college's well-regarded teacher training programme and its skills-for-life teaching programme."

The funding has come from the Government to develop the course. Mr Morecroft said: "The college is very pleased to have received this funding as it allows us to develop people as teachers who are currently not teaching.

"I know this sounds strange but in the past we have been only able to train teachers who have been contracted to teach on an hourly-paid basis. This therefore means people can try out literacy and numeracy teaching under the supervision and guidance of expert teaching practitioners before having to fully commit to a paid teaching contract. We hope this initiative will enable us to develop even more highly skilled tutors than we have now."

Mr Morecroft said the new course means people can study at a city centre location and learn in a working college without a major commitment of time.

He said: "The new course will innovate by focusing as much of the learning as possible on practical experience. Participants will meet in small groups rather than classes for discussion and guidance, and will be closely supported and mentored."

All that is required to apply for the course is a level three qualification in mathematics or numeracy, or English, literacy or communication. Many qualifications are at level 3, including A-levels to BTEC certificates to qualifications achieved through City & Guilds or the open college network. Worcester College of Technology is enrolling course members now until June this year.

For more information call Sarah Bradnick on 01905 743466.