A Didcot headteacher will play a major role raising school standards following the award of a prestigious research associateship with the National College for School Leadership.

David Burrows, headteacher of the 350-pupil Ladygrove Park Primary School in Avon Way, has been awarded a temporary research associate secondment by the college to investigate the role of school subject leaders as coaches.

He will work outside school for about two days a month to complete the work.

The project is expected to be completed by next Easter.

Mr Burrows said: "The opportunity to work alongside colleagues in a coaching role, just like a football or tennis coach, with the aim of helping them to help themselves to get better, might be the answer.

"I aim to find schools where subject leaders are already working as coaches, find out how they got started and see if it is working well."

He added: "I hope that the case studies will make useful reading for headteachers thinking of adopting the coaching model."