What to expect on our Training Programme
Your journey begins now.
Our Training Programme is your chance to change countless lives – starting with your own. On this page you’ll find further information about the various stages of training to become a teacher with us: from accepting your offer and getting plugged into all our supportive networks, to working through your academic modules and becoming a fully-qualified teacher.
Apply for 2025.
1. Accepting your offer
So you submitted a brilliant application and shone at our Development Centre assessment day? Great! At this stage we’ll make you an offer to join our Training Programme. We’ll give you access to our digital offer guide which contains key information and guidance on what you need to do to accept your place.
Once you’ve accepted it, you’ll be able to join our online Facebook community, and get access to our digital platforms, including My Teach First: our main online hub which will become your virtual home for the two years of the programme.
Remember: once you've completed your offer, you'll need to complete a few admin tasks so we can get you fully on board.
2. Before you step foot in the classroom
Before starting in the classroom, you will complete the Institute, which forms the initial basis of your training.
Your learning will take place both online and in person and is designed to equip you with the core skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a teacher.
As part of the Institute, you’ll:
- have access to online learning modules, including an induction and subject-specific curriculum
- spend time in your employment school that you’ll be working in for the two-year Training Programme
- spend time in a school to practise lesson planning and teach pupils, supported by expert teachers
3. Getting to know your local area
We know this is a big step, but – for many of our trainees – relocating to a new area is a necessary and exciting part of their Training Programme journey.
When you join our Facebook group, you’ll be able to share your plans and questions with other trainees who are in the same boat, and meet up with them once you make the move. We know that lifelong friendships are often formed this way.
I’m telling you now: if you are worried about anything to do with this process, just know that everything works out in the end.
4. Joining your school
From September or October, you’ll start your first term in your new employment school. By then you’ll have already spent some time there and will have a feel for their routines, curriculum and staff.
You’ll start teaching on an 80% timetable (60% in primary), putting into practice what you learned over the spring and summer.
You’ll begin work on your first teaching qualification and QTS modules, engaging with online learning and attending training days.
5. Working towards QTS
Once you complete your first year on the programme, you’ll have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
In your second year, you’ll be an Early Career Teacher (ECT).
Throughout, we’ll be there supporting you alongside your school and university tutor, through training days and bespoke one-to-one support.
6. Plugging you into our networks
Our growing Teach First community isn’t just about making friends. We’ll also connect you to our professional networks, which empower all of our trainees and alumni to share ideas and expertise for tackling educational inequality.
Together we can make real change happen quicker.
7. Supporting your development every step of the way
You can count on us to back you all the way with training, leadership development and ongoing support. Every trainee on our Training Programme has access to a range of experts who are dedicated to your development and wellbeing:
- Your Teach First ‘Development Lead’ will visit you to help with your teaching, provide a liaison point between your school, tutor and Teach First, and deliver some of your teaching qualification training.
- Your school mentor will be an experienced teacher at your school. They’ll meet with you regularly to support with your goals and challenges, provide support in school, and work with your school’s senior leadership team (SLT) and nominated SLT lead to oversee your development.
- Your tutor is from one of our partner universities and will provide support on your teaching qualification assignments and deliver some of the training.
Who can I turn to for help on the Training Programme?
Wellbeing support and resources on the programme
8. Supporting your wellbeing
Throughout your time on the Training Programme, you’ll have access to a range of options to support your wellbeing and mental health in teaching.
Packed with expert advice and techniques from leading psychologists, our online wellbeing course has been created exclusively for trainees to dip in and out of to continuously support you to be at your best.
You’ll also have access to our completely independent Employee Assistance Programme, which provides a range of free advice and confidential counselling services.
9. Choosing to lead
Developing your leadership skills is an integral part of what we do. That’s why leadership is woven into our teaching qualification.
You’ll be responsible for leading your classroom, and many of our trainees go on to increase their school responsibility in their second year. You might also start to think about further development opportunities with Teach First beyond our Training Programme.
Our Summer Projects and Coaching Programme help to deepen your skills and overcome professional challenges. They’ll connect you with our partners who work with us to end educational inequality.
And we don’t stop developing your leadership skills once you complete the Training Programme. We also run programmes dedicated to developing school leaders, including National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), which broaden and deepen expertise in your specialist area.
Our ambassador community
10. Becoming a Teach First ambassador
You’ll join everyone who completes one of our programmes and become a Teach First ambassador at the end of your two years. Our growing ambassador community of over 12,000 people –around two thirds of whom are still in teaching – are a close-knit, supportive bunch who are always happy to help.
It consists of teachers, leaders, policymakers and beyond, bringing their expertise to help unlock the potential in all children. No matter what you choose to do after your time with Teach First, as an ambassador, you're a critical part of the solution to ending educational inequality.