£10,000 to lure teachers to disadvantaged schools

Teachers are being offered a £10,000 "golden handcuffs" deal if they opt to work in the country's most disadvantaged schools.

The cash, on top of their salaries, will be available from September if they complete three years in one of the country's 500 most challenging schools.

Under the deal, the teachers will be given £2,000 installments at the end of their first and second years at disadvantaged schools and £6,000 once they have completed three years. Graham Holley, the chief executive of the Teaching and Development Agency, which is in charge of recruitment, said: "We need more of the best teachers in schools where they can do the most good. Teaching in a challenging school can be tough but with the right training and a great team around you it can be immensely rewarding."

Schools which are eligible for the scheme include more than 400 that the Government has warned it will close unless GCSE performance improves.