PRESS RELEASE FROM TEACH FIRST AND CANTERBURY CHRIST CHURCH UNIVERSITY
For immediate release 25.01.2008

Teacher training programme transforms London inner city schools

Ofsted has today praised a pioneering teacher training programme called Teach First that produces inspirational teachers for London inner city schools. According to Ofsted, Teach First has transformed London inner city schools and boosted standards radically.

Teach First targets high-achieving graduates straight from university and places them in some of England's most challenged schools for two years.  Graduates qualify as teachers after one year and commit to teach for at least one further year in the same school. 

Canterbury Christ Church University works with Teach First and its other training partners to lead on the Initial Teacher Training on the programme.  The University provides ongoing training and support to the trainees while they work as unqualified teachers in the London schools.

Ofsted, in its first review of the scheme, commended many features of the programme including its management by the University and Teach First, and most significantly, its impact in transforming of education in London. Inspectors considered half the trainees they saw were 'outstanding', while some were judged to be "amongst the most exceptional trainees produced by any teacher training route."

Challenged secondary schools often face a number of significant obstacles such as high pupil mobility, multiple spoken languages and families suffering the effects of deprivation. "By introducing additional excellent teachers into these schools, Teach First hopes to help overcome these obstacles, and provide a better education for thousands of pupils who lack the opportunities that many others take for granted," said Brett Wigdortz, CEO and Founder of Teach First. He added that the organisation would be working with Canterbury Christ Church University and regional university training providers to build on the advice from Ofsted to achieve improvements in areas such as in-school mentoring.

For more information contact Emma Russell at the Teach First external relations team on 0207 517 2724 / erussell@teachfirst.org.uk

Or Mary Galliers, Director of External Relations at CCCU on 01227 782823
mary.galliers@canterbury.ac.uk

For a copy of the report please visit the Teach First website www.teachfirst.org.uk/news/ofsted

Notes To Editors

1. Teach First's mission is to address educational disadvantage by transforming exceptional graduates into effective, inspirational teachers and leaders in all fields. Teach First targets high calibre students who would not normally consider a career in teaching and places them in challenged secondary schools, where more than a third of pupils are eligible for free school meals, for the course of the two year placement.
2. Teach First recruits, trains and supports its recruits as teachers and long-term leaders. Recruits to the programme began their intensive training with a three week programme run by universities in their respective location (London, the North West and the Midlands). The recruits then all join up together for a further three weeks at Canterbury Christ Church University, which is one of the country's most successful teacher education providers. This sets them on the path to achieving the award of Qualified Teacher Status by the end of the first year.
3. All teachers complete leadership training, including a short course at the Tanaka Business School at Imperial College. School placements last two years, at which point participants can continue teaching or pursue another career.
4. Teach First is an independent charity Reg. No. 1098294  that is supported by all the main political parties, the National Union of Teachers, graduate organisations and over eighty leading employers. Teach First is ranked 14th in the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers.

Canterbury Christ Church University
Education has been at the core of Canterbury Christ Church University's provision since its foundation in 1962. The Faculty of Education has experienced an enormous growth of programmes from initial teacher training to higher degrees encompassing all phases of education. Moreover, the University has been acknowledged nationally and internationally as a leading provider of teacher training and development. Its growth and reputation has been sustained through periods of national change. For more information on the various routes into teaching, log on to www.canterbury.ac.uk.

----
ends