The future of education in Norfolk has received a triple boost with the news two schools have received a national designation for teacher training, and a scheme to train future leaders of challenging schools has come to the county.

Norfolk currently boasts just three national training schools - outstanding schools that work with others to provide high-quality training and development - Sheringham Primary, West Raynham Primary, and Eaton Hall School.

Now Ormiston Venture Academy in Gorleston has become the Norfolk's first secondary school with the National College for Teaching and Leadership designation, and its executive principal Nicole McCartney becomes the county's fourth national leader of education.

She said: 'I am beyond delighted Ormiston Venture Academy has been accredited as a national teaching school. This means we have the freedom and autonomy to lead a group of schools, working with other partners including the University of East Anglia, to deliver high quality support for teachers and leaders at all stages in their career.

'As a national leader of education I firmly believe that all children have high aspirations and it is the duty of educators to nurture and empower students they teach with the drive to succeed. I will work to help those schools that find themselves in challenging circumstances to provide the best education possible.'

The roles of a teaching school include leading peer-to-peer professional and leadership development, identifying and developing leadership potential, providing support for other schools and engaging in research and development.

Venture will receive a £60,000 grant in its first year, and £50,000 and £40,000 in the second and third years, to build its leadership and administrative capacity to lead its teaching school alliance, called Ignite, which includes schools it will support and strategic partners.

Separately, a group of nine schools, including primary, secondary and complex needs schools, has been designated a national teaching school.

The group, in south and west Norfolk and led by Chapel Road School in Attleborough, is known as Encompass, and includes Taverham High, Wymondham College, The Bawburgh School, Kenninghall/Carleton Rode/Eccles Primary Schools, Banham Primary, Old Buckenham Primary, Fred Nicholson School and Churchill Park School.

In a third development, the Future Leaders Trust, which trains teachers who could become heads of challenging schools within two to five years, had agreed its first residency in Norfolk.

Craig Avieson, a lecturer in the School of Education and Lifelong Learning at the University of East Anglia, will take up a residency at the Norwich Primary Academy.

The trust said others could follow.