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Our Schools

Schools choose to work with Teach First participants for a two-year teaching commitment. In their first year, our participants are trainee teachers who work a reduced timetable similar to that given to newly qualified teachers (NQTs). At the end of their first year, participants gain qualified teacher status (QTS) and continue to work for a second year as NQTs, with the added benefit of having a year of full-time teaching experience in the same school.

In the past seven years, tens of thousands of pupils in the most disadvantaged areas of London, the North West and the Midlands received an enthusiastic and hard working teacher through Teach First. As of February 2009, 651 participants are teaching in 138 secondary and 10 primary schools across 38 local authorities in England. Click here for a list of the schools in which we place Teach First participant teachers.

Three quarters of Teach First participants teach the most demanded shortage subjects (Maths, Science, English, Modern Foreign Languages, ICT, Music and Religious Studies). Tutors, staff members and head teachers have been impressed by the commitment and energy of the Teach First participants placed in their schools. 95% of participating head teachers who were surveyed last year agreed that they were so impressed by Teach First teachers that they would hire more this year.

In order to become a partner of Teach First and employ a Teach First teacher, each school must meet certain criteria. Teach First schools must have one of the following:

  • more than 30% of pupils eligible for Free School Meals, the key indicator of poverty in schools in the UK
  • under 25% A*- C GCSE grades including English and Maths
  • be a National Challenge or City Challenge school

Unfortunately Teach First is unable to provide teachers for schools that are in special measures.

With the school and university’s support and training, participants fulfill their two-year commitment in the classroom and utilise the support networks they have along with their skills and talents to go "above and beyond" during their time in teaching. They strive to create tangible results for the benefit of the pupils and the school as a whole.

Find out how your school can get involved and access teachers that are keen to help address the learning needs of your pupils by contacting the relevant regional contact below.


"Our TF colleagues have been some of the most committed, enthusiastic, positive, caring and supportive young staff it has ever been my privilege to work with. In our experience they come 'fully formed' as teachers, which is a tribute both to the rigorous TF selection process and the training which they undergo with TF during the summer months. This state of preparedness immediately removed the reservations which some teachers in the school had initially expressed about the TF programme."


Marian Catterall, Headteacher, North Manchester High School for Girls

 

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