The Education Secretary, David Blunkett, has revealed plans for the initiative, which would allow high-quality graduates to move quickly up the pay scale.

Those taking part in the scheme would quickly reach a £23,000-a-year salary level. They would eventually earn up to £30,000, with salaries of £40,000 available to the top "super teachers" with advanced skills.

The teachers recruited under the scheme would have to work in variety of schools, and receive extra training in the holidays and after school.

'Drive for standards'

Speaking on BBC 1's Breakfast with Frost programme, Mr Blunkett said: "It's a new opportunity, not for payment by results, but by providing performance-related promotion.

David Blunkett: "It's a new opportunity"

"In that way we can attract, we can retain, we can reward teachers well - above all we can continue the drive for standards for all."

The move follows the government's introduction of £5,000 cash incentives for recruits to the shortage subjects maths and science.

The number of maths and science graduates entering teacher training has increased this year, and the scheme has now been extended to include modern languages.

Mr Blunkett insisted he would forge ahead with plans to introduce performance-related pay for teachers.

He said there would be no concessions to teaching unions on existing plans for pay.

"We don't have to, because we've gone through the period of consultation and we've reached agreement with virtually all the teaching unions now, particularly the head teacher unions," he said.