Stories

Meet the Change Makers and Change Partners helping to rewrite the future of education for children facing the biggest barriers – one story at a time.

Have a story of change to tell? Share your story with us.

Ed Kirwan standing in front of a presentation screen.

Building the Empathy Generation™: Ed’s journey from the classroom to global impact

Ed Kirwan

Teach First ambassador and CEO & Founder, Empathy Studios

Ed’s time in the classroom revealed a simple truth: empathy helps every student flourish.

Career journeys

Innovation and change making

Teacher standing beside a classroom screen displaying lesson content

From London to North Lincolnshire: How teaching became my calling

Francis

Maths teacher, Baysgarth School in Barrow

Francis joined Teach First because he believed every child should have access to the same opportunities.

Teacher training

Teaching in action

Two students working together at a classroom desk

Changing lives where you live – Ishaaq’s SCITT journey

Ishaaq

Geography trainee teacher, Eastbrook Academy

A geography trainee shares his experience of school-centred teacher training.

Teacher training

Teaching in action

Audience members listening during a conference event

A new model of leadership

Teach First

In partnership with The Reach Foundation, Teach First is launching a brand-new leadership framework.

Innovation and change making

Leadership

Teach First trainees are different in a good way

Rayan

Maths Teacher, Thomas Tallis School, London

Teach First trainees are driven to make a difference – Rayan’s journey shows why that matters.

Teacher training

Helping pupils aim higher: Elizabeth’s journey into the science classroom

Elizabeth

Science trainee, Waltham Toll Bar Academy (Grimsby)

From chemistry graduate to science teacher, Elizabeth is helping pupils aim higher with Teach First.

Career journeys

Teacher training

Building a Movement: what the research is teaching us about Change Makers

Tim Mobbs

Head of Ambassadors & Community

New insights into how Teach First ambassadors drive long-term change.

Innovation and change making

Networks and communities

Two teachers walking together in a school corridor

Coaching that rewrites the future: Samantha and Zarah on finding support, purpose and confidence

Samantha (BDO Volunteer Coach) and Zarah (RE Trainee, Teach First Coaching Programme)

Coaching helped Samantha and Zarah gain clarity, confidence and purpose in their careers.

Career journeys

Innovation and change making

A win–win: Gemma on the power of coaching

Gemma

Lead QHSE Advisor, Ørsted and Teach First Coach

How coaching a teacher helped Gemma grow in confidence, leadership and impact.

Innovation and change making

Leadership

From classroom struggles to systemic change: how two innovators are transforming education

Josh Goodrich

Teach First ambassador and co-founder of Steplab

Josh’s Teach First journey led to Steplab – a platform helping thousands of teachers improve, every week.

Career journeys

Innovation and change making

Two secondary school students in uniform smiling and laughing together while using a laptop in a classroom.

From local pupil to local teacher: Jeffrey’s journey to the front of the classroom

Jeffrey

Maths trainee teacher, Eastbrook School

Jeffrey returns to teach in his community, where his journey as a pupil began.

Career journeys

Teacher training

Fatima, wearing a lab coat and safety goggles, holds up results from a science experiment in a classroom laboratory.

Lighting up the classroom one ‘eureka!’ at a time

Fatima

Trainee science teacher

Fatima shares her journey from hospitality to trainee science teacher on the Teach First Training Programme.

Teacher training

Teaching in action

Showing 13 - 24 of 94 stories