Qualifications

PGCE and QTS
Throughout their first year on the Leadership Development Programme, participants work towards a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). 

Masters
During the second year, participants continue to work as newly qualified teachers (NQTs) and also have the opportunity to work towards a Masters qualification which is specifically designed to further develop their abilities to be effective leaders in school.

The PGCE and Leadership Development Programme are commitments that all participants are asked to meet when joining Teach First. The 180-credit Masters programmes have been designed to utilise and take advantage of work that participants are already committed to. This includes the achievement of their PGCE which gives participants 60 credits, and the work involved with the Leadership Development Programme. This is used as the basis for a reflective essay called the Independent Self Study, which provides a further 30 credits. The remaining 90 credits are achieved by the completion of a university taught module (30 credits) on topics such as education policy, school effectiveness, and leading change, and a dissertation report (60 credits).

Participants opting to undertake the Masters will begin working towards the qualification during their second year on the Leadership Development Programme, and continue during their first year as a Teach First Ambassador.

The Masters is completed through a Masters institution:

• 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
• The University of Manchester for those based in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber

What happens after the two years?
On successful completion of the two-year Leadership Development Programme participants become Teach First ambassadors.

Becoming an ambassador means joining a growing community which, as well as building personal and professional networks, brings with it a host of opportunities to address educational disadvantage in the long-term – something that is core to the mission of Teach First.

For more information on what to expect after two years in a classroom, please click here.