1 of 2

The idea
In Autumn 2001, London First and Business in the Community, two business membership organisations dedicated to community involvement, engaged management consultants, McKinsey and Company on a pro bono basis. McKinsey's brief was to investigate how businesses could help improve pupil performance in London. Though many factors were considered, the McKinsey team found that the number of excellent teachers in a school was one of the strongest predictors of improved pupil performance, especially in challenging schools. Inspired by the highly successful Teach For America programme, they recommended a programme targeted at top graduates, using the support of businesses and education leaders to bring additional excellent teachers into challenging schools for two years.

Early support
From February 2002, a team consisting of Rona Kiley, former Director of Business & Education at London First; John May, former Director of Education at Business in the Community; and Brett Wigdortz, a member of the original McKinsey team, worked to make the recommendation a reality. They gained the support of the business community, teaching profession, the government and opposition parties, the Training and Development Agency for Schools and other policymakers. With their support, an innovative business training scheme emerged that would develop leadership qualities among its participants and at the same time bring the commitment to excellence, drive and enthusiasm of top graduates into challenging  schools. 

The inspiration
The result is Teach First, a British programme inspired by the highly successful Teach For America scheme. Since 1990, Teach For America has placed over 17,000 exceptional individuals in schools, and has a strong track record in helping improve pupil performance levels in challenging schools. Among Teach For America's alumni there are successful lawyers, senate leaders, engineers, consultants, bankers, educationalists and, naturally, many teachers still making a difference in their classrooms. Many of the lessons and insights learned from Teach For America have informed the development of Teach First.

1 of 2