Hire trainee teachers FAQs
This section provides answers to frequently asked questions about hiring trainee teachers (also called 'participants') on our Teach Lead Change programme (previously called the 'Training Programme').
Frequently asked questions
Trainee recruitment and selection
- How will Teach First recruit and select participants for my school?
We collaborate with our partner schools to find talent that is suited to the needs and context of the school. From the time a vacancy is raised, a member of our team will be in touch to learn more about your staffing needs for next year.
Our recruitment process starts with a detailed online application form that captures their commitment to leadership development and our movement before the participant moves to a comprehensive assessment and onboarding process – all managed by us to save you time.
Before each participant joins their school in September, they'll have:
- been evaluated at our Development Centre through a mission-focused interview, role-focused interaction assessments including a teaching episode, self-evaluation exercises and professional discussions. Our in-person and virtual assessment centres are designed and run to find high-quality participants to join Teach Lead Change.
- completed a subject knowledge assessment, to identify readiness to teach a subject or phase, with action plans to build curriculum knowledge as part of their preparations as needed
- completed suitability to teach checks
To find out more about hiring trainee teachers, you can fill in our online form to tell us what you need and a member of our team will be in touch.
- How are participants assessed during their Development Centre?
Our selection process ensures we find participants who are the right fit for your school. We look for:
- Dedicated and enthusiastic applicants, committed to equity
- Diverse backgrounds and experiences
- Top qualifications, and the potential to learn and grow
- Passionate about working in schools tackling the biggest challenges
Applicants need a 2:1 degree, a degree or A-levels that satisfy curriculum requirements, and Grade C/4 (or equivalent) in GCSE Maths and English.
During their development centre, applicants will complete three main elements:
- A one-to-one interview with an assessor, focusing on their alignment with our mission and commitment to driving lasting change within our movement. They will also have the chance to ask any questions they may have and be redirected to programme materials or their dedicated Talent Officer.
- A professional discussion around a pressing topic within education and student engagement. They will complete a group exercise, designed to capture how they interpret, address and respond to issues affecting pupils and the school community. They will be asked to collaborate within the context of a staff working group and Teach First community challenges.
- Applicants will be asked to deliver a five-minute teaching episode on a subject from our pre-approved QTS list (Key Stage 1, 2, 3 or 4). The assessors will be looking for them to demonstrate their ability to communicate their topic in an appropriate and accessible manner for the context of the pupil and their topic. After their first delivery, assessors will provide feedback including a practice development point to assess their ability to be coached, adapt and develop. They will then re-deliver their teaching exercise with this feedback in mind.
The programme
- How is the programme structured?
Your Teach Lead Change participant will follow a structured two-year development journey that combines teacher training, classroom practice and leadership development from day one. Starting with Summer Institute and continuing throughout their first two years in the classroom, they will build the knowledge, skills, and experience to become an effective teacher and future leader in education.
Year one
- Start in school from day one, supported by expert mentoring and training.
- Secondary: Teach Key Stages 3 and 4 (or Key Stages 4 and 5 in business studies), building up to an 80% timetable.
- Primary: Teach in Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2, starting on a 60% timetable and increasing to 80% by Christmas.
- Complete a contrasting school experience to broaden their understanding of different contexts.
- Work towards qualified teacher status (QTS) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), subject to validation.
- Begin developing the leadership knowledge, skills and mindset that underpin long-term impact in schools.
Year two
- Progress to a standard early career teacher (ECT) timetable.
- Consolidate and extend their classroom expertise.
- Deepen their leadership development through learning how to influence practice, contribute to school improvement and drive positive outcomes for pupils.
- Continue learning alongside a national network of peers committed to tackling educational disadvantage.
Outcomes
By the end of the programme, participants will have established themselves as effective classroom practitioners and developed a strong foundation for leadership. Through Teach Lead Change, they will be equipped not only to make an immediate impact in the classroom, but to contribute to wider school improvement throughout their careers.
- What training will a participant receive before starting in my school?
Before joining your school, participants will take part in Summer Institute, an immersive introduction to teaching and the first stage of the Teach Lead Change programme. Designed to build confidence before September, Summer Institute equips participants with the knowledge, skills and habits they'll need to make a positive impact from their first day in the classroom.
Through a blend of expert-led training, practical experience and collaborative learning, participants will explore key areas such as behaviour and routines, curriculum and lesson design, assessment, adaptive teaching and creating inclusive classroom environments. They'll also begin developing the reflective and leadership-focused mindset that underpins Teach Lead Change.
Summer Institute is available in either a full-time (5-week) or part-time (7-week) format, making the programme accessible to participants with a range of personal and professional commitments. Both routes provide the same high-quality curriculum and opportunities for school-based experience.
During Summer Institute, participants will spend a day in your school, observing lessons, getting to know colleagues and pupils, and developing an understanding of your school's context before beginning full-time in September. This early exposure helps participants arrive ready to build strong relationships and contribute quickly to school life.
The result is a training experience that combines practical classroom application, personalised coaching, academic study and leadership development, helping participants grow into confident teachers and future leaders of change.
- What support does the participant receive throughout the programme?
Throughout their first two years, participants receive a comprehensive range of support to help them build the confidence and skills required. Your participants will work with these key roles:
- Teach First support roles: Expert Teach First teacher educators who will oversee all training and your participant's development.
- School-based mentor: The mentor will be a teacher who's already in your team and is designated to support the participant.
- National Institute of Teaching: Will award the PGCE (subject to validation), while providing academic support and student services.
- What are the online learning elements of Teach Lead Change?
Teach Lead Change combines the best of in-person and online learning to create a flexible, high-quality training experience. Over the last few years, we've refined a blended delivery model that enables participants to access expert input, collaborate with peers and engage with programme content in ways that fit around the realities of school life.
The programme uses a range of digital platforms to support learning, practice and development throughout the two years:
- Brightspace: Our online learning platform, providing access to programme resources, self-directed learning, assignments and developmental activities.
- StepLab: Our instructional coaching platform, used to support deliberate practice, track progress and help participants develop the knowledge, skills and habits associated with excellent teaching. StepLab Lens also enables participants to record their teaching practice and receive targeted feedback from mentors and other support roles.
- Teams: Used for online seminars, expert input sessions, collaborative learning activities and programme events.
To ensure participants can fully engage with the programme, we provide access to all required digital platforms, and schools can opt in to receiving a kit to support video reflection and feedback using StepLab Lens.
Costs, salary and eligibility
- How much does it cost to recruit a Teach First trainee teacher?
The government covers most of the funding for recruitment and training, but your school will also contribute. We recognise the significant financial pressures schools and trusts are facing. With this in mind, we are reducing our fee structure for schools from 2027.
Our new 2027 annual fee structure:
- Maths, Science and Computing: £3,350
- Modern Foreign Languages and Geography: £3,000
- English: £2,700
- All other secondary subjects: £2,450
- Primary: £1,000
This represents a significant reduction from previous fees and is designed to make partnering with Teach First more affordable at a time when school budgets are under considerable pressure.
- What salary does the school pay the participant?
These are minimum salary scales and schools or trusts may want to increase these based on their own policies or other precedents.
Year and phase / subject Salary scale and point (min.) Year 1: Primary UQ1 Year 1: Secondary priority subjects (maths, science and modern foreign languages) UQ3 Year 1: Secondary – all other subjects UQ2 Year 2: Primary and all secondary subjects M1 - Is my school eligible to work with Teach First?
We use criteria that have been agreed with the Department for Education to identify schools that will benefit most from working with us. We focus on schools where the proportion of pupils eligible for pupil premium is in the top 70% of all state-funded secondary schools – or top 60% of primary schools – and attainment is below average.
We understand that no set of criteria or data is ever going to capture the full context. If your school would benefit from our support but doesn't match the standard eligibility criteria above, contact our team for a chat about your situation.
- When will my new trainee teacher start?
All trainee teachers will start in September to begin the academic year. Before they start, they'll complete Summer Institute – the initial teacher training which equips them with the core skills they'll need to teach in the classroom.
During this time, they'll learn some of the fundamentals to start teaching, such as behaviour management, pupil assessment and lesson planning. They'll also boost their curriculum knowledge and meet other participants.
- What happens after the two-year programme?
When the participant has completed the two-year programme, you're free to offer them a permanent contract. The majority of our participants continue to teach after the two years.
We also offer ongoing training and qualifications through our training partners, such as our Early Career Training Programme (ECTP) and National Professional Qualifications (NPQs). They'll also learn from and share best practice with thousands of teachers through our support networks.
How to hire a trainee
- How do I raise a vacancy with Teach First?
Raising a vacancy is simple:
- If you already work with us: Raise a vacancy through the School Portal.
- If you are new to working with Teach First: Simply fill in our online form and tell us what you need. A member of our team will be in touch to discuss next steps.
- When can I raise a vacancy with Teach First?
We currently recruit participants to start each September as standard, and you can raise a vacancy with us at any time.
To get in contact with a member of our team, fill in our online form and tell us what you need. We'll get in touch to discuss next steps.
- What if I don't know my staffing needs yet?
Please feel free to get in touch using our online form and a member of our team will get in touch to discuss how we can help your school and create extra capacity.