A new initiative to raise standards in the classroom will spell schools giving more freedom to teachers and providing more assistants and support staff.

Newton Farm First and Middle School in Ravenswood Crescent, South Harrow, has been chosen to join the nationwide scheme to explore new ways of tackling the amount of work teachers have which takes them away from lesson planning, marking, and school planning activities.

The school will look at how the workforce can be remodelled to make the most of contributions from teaching assistants, clerical staff, technicians and ancillary staff - with the help of a school workforce advisory team.

Resources being developed through the scheme which is being funded by central government include a laptop for every teacher, internet access and ICT support and networked lesson plans on-line will be sent to the school.

Headteacher Rekha Bhakoo (correct) said: "It is very exciting to be chosen to take part in such an important project. My staff and myself are looking forward to exploring ways of removing administration tasks, allowing teachers to fully express their teaching skills for the benefit of all pupils."

Newton Farm's nursery is also taking part in the project and the school is just one of 32 throughout the country which is undertaking the challenge.

The initiative will also see the employment of additional teaching assistants and administrative support staff to allowing teachers and school leaders to focus on their professional responsibilities and the provision of extra training to prepare the support staff for their new role.

The project will commence in September 2002 and run for one academic year.