University researchers to help teach school science

University research scientists will be encouraged to spend a couple of days each week teaching in schools as part of a government initiative to combat the shortage of science teachers.

A pilot project involving post-doctoral researchers at Imperial College, London, and local specialist schools was being used as a model for a nationwide scheme, Estelle Morris, the Education and Skills Secretary, said yesterday.

"Our aim must be that over a five to 10-year period we work towards every single secondary school within easy reach of a university being covered by such a programme," Ms Morris said.

The Imperial College scheme, which is sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, will supply up to 15 schools with one or two research scientists each.

A spokeswoman for Imperial College said: "They will spend half their time at Imperial and half their time in schools. The idea is that it will lead to a teaching qualification."

Ms Morris, speaking at the launch of the Government's strategy for science, which outlines how the extra £1.25bn a year announced last week is to be spent, said she wanted to see more bridges being built between schools and universities. "If we only depend on people coming into teaching through the traditional ways, we won't crack it," she said.