The Leadership Development Programme
Participants are trained through a two-year Leadership Development Programme, designed to develop their teaching and leadership abilities so that they can help pupils reach their full potential.
The programme combines working, qualifying and training as a teacher with leadership development training, coaching and mentoring and a range of networking and internship opportunities - all designed to help your participant become the most effective teacher they can be.
Overview of the 13 month PGCE
To prepare for the classroom in September, participants undertake an intensive six-week residential, known as Summer Institute. Here they learn about educational disadvantage and their role in addressing it, as well as educational theory and practice. Every element of training is tailored to the context of a school where the majority of pupils are from low socio-economic backgrounds.
During their first year on the programme participants have full responsibility for their classes, teaching an NQT timetable as they work towards a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). They work in partnership with one of our university partners to become qualified teachers by the end of the first year.
In their second year of teaching, as NQTs, participants work within their school's normal NQT requirements. Read more about the 13 month PGCE
Contact us to find out more
Primary Expansion
Teach First began working in primary schools across the country in 2011 and developed a bespoke ITT programme to meet the needs of schools.
It is crucial that all children receive the best possible education from the earliest possible stage. As such, we are delighted that primary is now a permanent part of Teach First's provision. This is an enormous opportunity for us to work in partnership with a new group of schools and university partners to make a difference for primary pupils across the country. It is our hope that as well as expanding our impact to those at much younger ages, we will also help address the growing shortage of leaders in the primary sector and support the profession in raising the profile and status of primary teaching.
Teach First expanded into primary in September 2011 following a three year pilot in London. We are well aware of the different challenges and opportunities for our participants teaching in primary schools and felt it was fundamental to understand these thoroughly before launching permanently and nationally. Whilst the overall structure of our programme is in line with our secondary provision, our primary ITT is highly bespoke and has been designed with schools, for schools.
Our new primary model was designed in consultation with existing partner primary schools, as well as other leading primary heads and experts including Robin Alexander (Cambridge Primary Review), Ruth Miskin (RML) and David Reedy (President, UK Literacy Association). Our five leading university training partners took those recommendations and implemented them as a highly innovative and bespoke initial teacher training programme, preparing our teachers for Key Stages 1 and 2.
The initial six-week summer training places particular emphasis on:
- Literacy (including two days of phonics delivered by Ruth Miskin Literacy)
- Numeracy
- Child Development and Inclusion
- Classroom management, organisation and creating a positive culture
As we partner with more and more schools around the country the training will continue to evolve as it takes account of their feedback and new ideas.
Teach First Masters
Teach First participants have the opportunity to further develop their teaching and leadership skills by working towards a Masters qualification. Starting in their second year of teaching the Masters has been designed to help participants further understand educational disadvantage within the context of their school, resulting in detailed research and understanding that will directly benefit your pupils.
Participants begin this two-year optional commitment at the end of their first year teaching, after achieving their PGCE.
The Masters is delivered in partnership with:
- The Institute of Education, University of London for those based in London
- The University of Warwick for those based in the East and West Midlands and the North East
- The University of Manchester for those based in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber
Teach First has negotiated a vastly reduced cost with each university of £2,000 for the masters. This forms part of the school recruitment fee and is collected by Teach First towards the participant's continuing professional development. If a participant chooses not to undertake the Masters, this money is refunded to the school.
Participants start their Masters whilst undertaking their second year of full time teaching, and complete it within three years of registration. Contact one of our regional teams to find out more about the Masters.
