Teach First awarded multi-year contract to train 1,000 new teachers annually
Teach First has been awarded a new contract from the Department of Education to deliver the next iteration of a training programme that will bring 1,000 new teachers into the profession every year.
Programme to focus on training teachers in disadvantaged communities where educational inequality is highest
New programme identity to be introduced in partnership with Teach First
The new programme will commence in September 2027 and is specifically focused on training and developing new teachers who would not have otherwise considered teaching. The priority focus will be on regions across the country where educational inequality is highest.
The 2027 contract represents a shift from the 2025 and 2026 delivery years, both in scale and strategic direction, reflecting the Department for Education’s new vision for the programme. This will be marked by the introduction of a new programme identity – Teach Lead Change. The logo for this new programme will appear alongside the Teach First brand to signal the renewed focus on disadvantage and deliver on the Department’s pledge to focus on the communities and schools in areas where the need is greatest.
The contract will initially cover three cohorts of trainees across five years, ending in 2031, with the potential of further extension until 2033.
The programme will be delivered in partnership with the National Institute of Teaching to drive continuous improvement across the programme throughout the contract. The National Institute will be the higher education institution partner delivering the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and trainee services to support academic success. They will apply their research expertise and school-wide insights to help refine delivery, monitor impact and strengthen the trainee experience.
Under the previous iteration of the training programme which has run since 2003, Teach First has trained more than 20,000 new teachers.
More than 250 current headteachers and leaders of trusts started their career through the training programme, with one in five secondary schools in disadvantaged areas currently having a Teach First ambassador on their senior leadership team.
Research has shown that departments that have a trainee from the programme see a noticeable improvement in student achievement at GCSE compared to similar departments in other schools, and students at these schools are more likely to go on to university.
Developing future teachers and leaders
The new programme will have a greater focus on placing teachers within priority subjects, such as in STEM, and will allow trainees to explore new pathways in their second year, including in AI, SEND and inclusion, and in community leadership.
James Toop, Teach First’s CEO, said:
“We are delighted to be able to continue our flagship work developing the next generation of teachers and leaders, reflecting the Department of Education’s new vision for the programme.
For this new contract we will reduce the cost to schools at a time when budgets are tight, and we will return to a focus on bringing in skilled new teachers who might not have considered the profession previously.
We are pleased to be marking this focus on disadvantage with the new Teach Lead Change identity working alongside the Teach First brand to attract the Change Makers of the future.
I’m excited to be delivering this programme in partnership with the National Institute of Teaching, whose expertise will mean that together we can provide the highest quality of training to thousands of new teachers across the country.
This new contract will allow us to double down on our mission: bringing skilled individuals into the profession who might not have previously considered teaching, and nurturing leadership skills that ensure that no child’s future is determined by their socio-economic background.”
Melanie Renowden, CEO at the National Institute of Teaching, said:
“The National Institute of Teaching is committed to ensuring every child experiences the transformative power of a high-quality education.
Through this partnership, we will train more teachers in schools serving under-resourced communities, providing them with the expert support required to become confident, capable and committed classroom practitioners, in turn helping to ensure that more children benefit from great teaching.”
Minister for School Standards, Georgia Gould, said:
“Brilliant teaching is our single biggest lever to improve young people’s life chances and bridge the gap for children who have been left behind for too long.
I look forward to working with Teach First on this exciting new chapter, as we return the programme to its original purpose of putting the very best trainee teachers into schools in the poorest communities.
We are already making real progress, having met over 70% of our pledge to recruit and retain 6,500 additional teachers, with more joining the profession every year. The Teach Lead Change programme is central to this mission, ensuring every child has a brilliant teacher at the front of the classroom delivering an excellent education.”
Notes to editor
- Teach First has been training teachers and leaders for over twenty years. Giving children in the most deprived communities a fighting chance at a successful future. Yet millions are still being denied opportunities by poverty and inequality. We are building a movement of Change Makers and Change Partners. United in the belief that no child’s educational success should be limited by their socio-economic background. Our Change Makers start by leading change in the classroom and, wherever their career takes them, they continue to champion children’s futures. And our Change Partners help us reach more pupils facing educational disadvantage than ever before. Together, we are making sure every child, no matter their background, gets the opportunities they need to thrive. Change is possible.
- The National Institute of Teaching is a higher education institution established by schools to conduct research and deliver teacher education in all regions of England. Their mission is to improve the quality of teacher and leader development at a system level by generating and interpreting research, applying the insights to the design and delivery of high-quality teacher development programmes, and sharing it all with the sector.