The "levelling-up" premium will help unleash the potential of children, said the Prime Minister.

       A ￡60million fund is targeted at recruiting maths, physics, chemistry and IT specialists into schools struggling to fill those roles.

       And Mr Johnson praised Brampton Manor Academy as a shining example.

       Some 55 pupils at the east London state school attained grades to study at Oxbridge this year - more than the offers made to pupils of private Eton College, the PM's former school.

       He said: "There is absolutely no reason why the kids of this country should lag behind or why so many should be unable to read and write or do basic mathematics at the age of 11."

       Covid caused major disruption to education, making it harder to recruit and retain staff, says the Government.

       New teachers currently start on a ￡30,000 salary and the one-off bonus will add between ￡1,000 and ￡3,000.

       The premium will run for three years and comes on top of ￡250million invested in boosting teacher training.

       Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said it was "competitive" and would "drive up quality".

       Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the premium "sounds like a good idea".