Almost 40 new trainee teachers will be working with children from low-income backgrounds thanks to a new partnership programme involving Bath Spa University.
The new recruits will be posted in schools in deprived parts of Bristol, Gloucester and Swindon to help break the link between poverty and poor academic attainment.
It is part of a scheme organised by Bath Spa University, the University of Bristol and education charity Teach First.
Bath Spa will be training the primary school teachers, while Bristol will focus on secondary.
The prospective teachers have just begun their two-year training and are currently at the Regional Summer Institute, an intensive six-week residential course.
In September, they will then be placed in schools across the South West, so they can learn on the job.
Bath Spa's director of education Professor Robert Barratt said the university was pleased to be involved with such an important training scheme which could make a real difference to children living in poverty across the region.
He said: "Bath Spa University is delighted to be working with Teach First and the University of Bristol Graduate School on this prestigious route into teaching.
"We offer one of the most sought after teacher training courses in the country and are looking forward to helping train these new participants to become outstanding teachers of the future, who will be doing such important work in areas of poverty and poor achievement."
Teach First's acting director of leadership Reuben Moore added: "All our providers share Teach First's passion and purpose to address educational disadvantage.
"This partnership will deepen our relationship with schools, serve the needs of our pupils and allow schools to contribute to and inform our training.
"We believe that by having an increased accountability for the training of our teachers we can make an even greater impact for the pupils and schools we work with.
"We will be continuing to work in close collaboration with education professionals who are already delivering great work in schools to end educational disadvantage."
