A RADICAL Scottish pilot scheme which transforms the way teachers are trained using the idea of teaching hospitals has been backed in a new report.

Research found the Scottish Government-backed project in a number of primary and secondary schools in Glasgow had improved the experience of student teachers.

It singled out its use of "learning rounds", where groups of students observe a number of teachers at work in the same school, as well as each other.

The model borrows from the traditional approach of medical training where student doctors follow an experienced colleague on his or her rounds.

Currently trainee teachers are sent to different schools across a local authority area for their probation year, which means levels of support can differ markedly.

Academics also found the pilot – a partnership between Glasgow City Council and Glasgow University – strengthened links between teachers and university lecturers.

After publication of the evaluation, the council said it would expand the model to other city schools. Currently, the pilot involves primary and secondary schools in Hillhead, Knightswood and Notre Dame, all in the city's west end.

Jean McFadden, the council's executive member for education, said schools on the city's south side would now be involved.

She said: "The council has already acted on the positive outcomes of the pilot research and the second phase will now be put in place.

"It involves 27 student teachers who are currently working in secondary and primary schools in the south side of the city."

It is also highly likely the model will be adopted by councils across Scotland in partnership with other universities.

A Glasgow University spokesman said: "The pilot schemes were innovative and exciting and we were very grateful for the opportunity and support we received. We look forward to developing the model."

The evaluation report, led by Professor Ian Menter, chair of teacher education at Glasgow University, followed the progress of more than 30 primary and secondary trainee teachers.

The report found students were generally positive about their experience, with 86% reporting it had promoted their professional learning and development.

"They reported benefiting greatly from the learning rounds and seminars which, they believed, had deepened their knowledge of the curriculum, facilitated their ability to reflect, enabled them to put new methodologies into practice immediately and provided a common focus for professional dialogue," the report found.

"One student said that her ability to plan teaching had improved dramatically over the six-week placement."

The report raised some concerns over the ability of schools to cope, and staffing issues for universities, but it concluded: "This evaluation has identified evidence of significant gains and achievements made through the pilot scheme."

The idea of teaching schools has already been given national endorsement in a review of teacher training published in 2010. In his report, entitled Teaching Scotland's Future, Graham Donaldson, the former chief inspector of schools in Scotland, backed the concept of specialist training hubs.

"Current experiments involving a more intensive relationship between a university and identified schools, analogous to teaching hospitals, should be pursued as possible models of practice more generally," his report concluded.

"Current experiments, for example as led by Glasgow University and partners - may help to ensure better progression from initial teacher education."