The headmaster of St Andrew's Cathedral School is worried. Schools are facing a looming teacher shortage, but he finds the quality of graduates from teaching degrees "somewhat unpredictable".

John Collier's counterpart at The Scots College, Ian Lambert, also thinks graduates are not as "classroom-ready as they could be". Both have signed their schools up to a ground-breaking teacher-training program they hope will offer a solution.

The Scots College principal, Dr Ian Lambert, with students. The college will participate in a ground-breaking teacher training program next year. Credit:Louise Kennerley

In partnership with Alphacrucis College, members of the Teaching Schools Alliance – which also includes Blue Mountains Grammar and William Clarke College – will hand-pick the school leavers or career changers before they begin their degree.

The students will be paid to work as teacher's aides at their respective schools for one or two days a week, with the aim of working there full-time once they graduate.