Teach First


Teach First is an education charity working to build a fair education for all. Currently, the link between income and school results is stronger in the UK than many other developed nations, and a child from a poor background is less than half as likely to go to a school rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Our challenge is to unlock the potential in all our children, not just some. We help talented people become great teachers, working in the schools where they’re needed most. We support them every step of the way as they discover their potential. And when they’re ready, we help them to step up and lead change, in schools and beyond.

On our two-year training programme you will:

Earn a salary and pay no fees

Your place on our training is fully-funded, which isn’t the case with many teacher training courses. You’ll also earn a salary from day one. You start on the basic wage for an unqualified teacher (from £19,739), rising in the second year to newly qualified teacher level.

Gain internationally recognised teaching qualifications - Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)

A Post Graduate Diploma in Education is worth double the credits of a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), which means it’s easier to upgrade it to a Master’s degree.

Make a difference in the classroom from day one

As soon as the school year starts in September you’ll be in the classroom. Not just observing lessons. Actually teaching them.

Expert support from your school and from us

You’re never on your own. You’ll have a mentor you can turn to whenever you need. You’ll also have a university tutor to assess your progress. A dedicated Teach First expert will oversee all your training and help with any issues inside or outside the classroom.

Areas covered

Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire (Hemel Hempstead), Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire

Braintree is covered as part of our East of England region, and Harlow as part of our London region.

PGDE content is delivered both online and in-person: in-person training takes place in central locations across the region.

Courses

Early Years 3-5

Primary 5-11

Secondary 11-16: in the East of England, we offer English, Maths, Science, History, Geography MFL, Computing, Design Technology, Music and Business Studies

Routes

The Teach First Training Programme:

  • Two years, full-time
  • Fully-funded and salaried
  • Gain QTS at end of Year 1
  • Gain a PGDE at end of Year 2

Click here for an explanation of the different routes into teaching 

Training Programme Nomination  

If you’re already employed by a school, perhaps working as a Teaching Assistant, Business manager or sports coach and want to train to become a teacher, our Training Programme offers world-class teacher training and leadership development, and when your headteacher nominates you through us, it means you can undertake it at your own school.  You’ll be staying in the school you know, but your career will be going places. You’ll spend some time at conferences, on training days and experiencing other schools, but your training will be in a familiar setting. 

Website

https://www.teachfirst.org.uk/training-programme