Financial support

Some trainees might have to move to a new area or commute longer distances to get to their school. Each year we train teachers and leaders on our Training Programme in two waves. Those joining in the second wave will begin their training in September at Autumn Institute before joining the classroom in October.

As we look to recruit more brilliant teachers against the backdrop of a cost-of-living crisis, we are piloting two grants for people joining the 2023 cohort for Autumn Institute, to support them with relocating or commuting costs.

What support is available?

Relocation grant:

We’ll be offering a one-off grant of £2,000 to trainees who relocate to be nearer to their school.

Once you’ve confirmed where you’ll live, you’ll need to provide evidence of a new address (e.g. tenancy agreement) which you have taken up between being matched with an employment school and starting work there. This will be paid to you at the end of October.

Commuter grant:

We’ll also be offering a one-off £1,000 grant to trainees who are matched with an employment school which will cost them more than £150 a month to commute to. This will be paid to you at the end of October unless demonstrated it is needed sooner.

Trainees can only apply for one of the two grants – if you relocate, you should move to somewhere that is a commutable distance from your school.

Who is eligible for this support?

The two grants are available to Autumn Institute trainees in the 2023 cohort who meet the below criteria.

For the relocation grant, a trainee must demonstrate that they have had to move to a new house that is closer to their school.

For the commuter grant, a trainee must demonstrate that their commuting costs to their employment school exceed £150 per month.

When will this financial support be available?

Trainees who meet the eligibility criteria can apply for the grant once their employment school is confirmed. The window for applications will remain open until the end of October. All payments will be made by the end of October.

Why is this only available to Autumn Institute trainees?

Autumn Institute trainees will start the programme at an exciting time; the school year is in full swing, and their students have settled in. However, they will need to be a little more flexible on their school’s location as there are fewer schools looking to recruit staff during the autumn term.

Compared to their Summer Institute peers, these trainees also have a shorter gap between completing their training and joining school – great for taking all that they have learned and hitting the ground running in the classroom. But it means they must make plans for where they will live quite quickly.

The grants available aim to support these trainees to ensure they are set up to succeed.

Why have Teach First decided to do this?

Recruiting teachers at the moment is difficult, and the cost-of-living crisis is making it even more challenging for people looking to take on a new career in education. If we’re serious about making sure schools in disadvantaged communities get the best teachers, we need to support those teachers as they start their training.

This often requires trainees to relocate or to commute a longer distance, which can be costly. Which is why we are piloting this scheme. We’re offering payments for applicants to Autumn Institute to help with the initial costs of relocation or commuting as they often must be more flexible.

What other financial support is available to trainees who aren’t eligible?

For those not eligible, we offer a hardship grant for candidates in exceptional circumstances that need extra financial support. This is allocated on a case-by-case basis.

Will you do this every year?

This is a pilot scheme. We will evaluate its impact before committing to any future financial incentive.

What happens if a trainee leaves the programme after receiving a grant?

This is an upfront payment to cover initial costs a trainee may incur to move closer to their employment school, or to travel long distances to get there.  If a trainee withdraws from the programme, a decision will be made on the repayment of the grant on a case-by-case basis.

How can I apply for the Training Programme?

Head to our Training Programme page to begin your application.

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