Only 4% of newly qualified teachers would consider teaching in a school in challenging circumstances. All Teach First teachers work in schools in challenging circumstances for a minimum of two years. 67% remain in school beyond the two year Leadership Development Programme and 55% of all Teach First ambassadors remain in teaching in the long-term.

Teach First is a charity that recruits exceptional graduates looking to make an impact in the classroom of schools in challenging circumstances and who have a desire to address the inequalities in education in the long-term. The success of Teach First lies in the extent and quality of its partnerships with a wide range of organisations, including schools, teaching unions, universities, businesses and other charities.

Once graduates have successfully undergone a rigorous graduate recruitment selection process, they become a participant of a two-year Leadership Development Programme. As part of this programme, participants are placed and supported in a school in challenging circumstances to raise the achievement, access and aspirations of the pupils they teach. The aim of the programme is to develop participants' leadership abilities to enable them to do this, and prepare them to be leaders both inside and outside the classroom. After successful completion of the Leadership Development Programme, participants graduate as Teach First ambassadors, committing themselves to supporting Teach First in addressing educational disadvantage on a long-term basis through various opportunities and initiatives.