A new school improvement initiative to support disadvantaged pupils in the classroom - and the professional learning and development of teachers - is to be launched by Leeds Metropolitan.

The 'Leading Learning' project is the first of its kind in the region and offers teachers the option to study for Masters degrees and PhDs while working in conjunction with academic partners from Leeds Metropolitan.

Dr Ruth Lupton, from the London School of Economics, who has an international reputation on addressing social and educational inequalities, will speak at the launch event at Leeds Metropolitan University on 30 March, along with Professor Sally Glen, Deputy Vice Chancellor from Leeds Met and Dirk Gilleard, Deputy Chief Executive of Education Leeds. The scheme, which is supported by Leeds City Council, has been developed by Leeds Metropolitan's Winifred Mercier Professor of Teacher Education, Lori Beckett.

Professor Beckett said: "The Government's educational reform package is committed to high standards and closing the gaps in educational achievement between rich and poor students. Teachers are the key to this and our school-university partnership offers a unique opportunity for teachers and academics to work in partnership and learn from each other in a unique way. Academics will work with practitioners to develop localised responses and, ultimately, improve results. Crucially, strategic teacher-led intervention is being championed alongside teacher learning and development."

Dirk Gilleard, deputy chief executive of Education Leeds, said: "This is an exciting initiative which helps teachers investigate, for themselves, learning and teaching their own classroom. The work will be expertly facilitated by academic partners from the university and there will be great opportunities for teachers to share their findings and learn from each other. We've already seen the power of this work in some of our schools and we are keen to invite other teachers and schools to take advantage of this approach."

Teachers who enrol on the three year scheme participate in seminar-workshops, work with academic partners, receive project newsletters, and enjoy other opportunities to engage with the university. They can also qualify for a Graduate Diploma in the first year, going on to study for a Masters degree with the potential to do an Education Doctorate focussed on their contribution to school improvement plans.

Professor Beckett added: "This is very much about bringing the resources of the city to bear on working in schools and supporting teachers in the classroom, rather than so-called experts issuing advice from the comfort of their ivory towers."

The scheme, which has been piloted locally with significant success, is being launched on the same day that Leeds Metropolitan will hold the annual Winifred Mercier public lecture, honouring the first female Vice Principal at the former City of Leeds Training College.