Teach First

Teach First
Formation2002; 22 years ago (2002)
FounderBrett Wigdortz
TypeCompany limited by guarantee and Registered Charity
Registration no.Company ref 04478840
Charity ref 1098294
FocusEducation
HeadquartersGreenwich, London
Location
  • Various locations throughout England and Wales
Area served
England and Wales
Key people
Russell Hobby, CEO[1]
Revenue
£50.6m (2014)[2]
Employees
408 (2014)[2]
Websiteteachfirst.org.uk
Teach First office building in Greenwich.

Teach First (also Teach First Cymru) is a social enterprise registered as a charity which aims to address educational disadvantage in England and Wales.[3][4][5] Teach First coordinates an employment-based teaching training programme whereby participants achieve Qualified Teacher Status through the participation in a two-year training programme that involves the completion of a PGDE along with wider leadership skills training and an optional master's degree.[6]

Trainees are placed at participating primary and secondary schools where they commit to stay for the duration of the 2-year training programme. Eligible schools are those where more than half of the pupils come from the poorest 30% of families according to the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index. Following completion of the two-year programme, participants become Teach First ambassadors. This network of ambassadors aims to address educational disadvantage either in school or in other sectors.

Teach First is the largest recruiter of graduates in the United Kingdom,[7] and was ranked 2nd only to PwC in The Times annual Top 100 Graduate Employers list in 2014 and 2015.[8][9][10]

The Teach First scheme has been met with some controversy and criticism since its inception,[11] which has impeded its planned expansion into Scotland.[12]

In June 2020 Teach First failed to provide places on its programme to 120 trainees due to lack of training opportunities because of COVID-19, sending out a generic email. Some prospective trainees has already given up steady jobs in order to take up placements.[13]

  1. ^ Young, Toby (4 November 2017). "Why did Teach First take down my blog on genetics, IQ and education?". The Spectator. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Charity overview for 1098294 – TEACH FIRST". Charity Commission. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  3. ^ "What is a Social Enterprise?". Social Business Trust. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  4. ^ "1098294 – TEACH FIRST". Charity Commission. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Wigdortz was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Inspection Report 2011". Ofsted. July 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  7. ^ "Harnessing idealism: Think Ahead attracts good graduates into supporting teenagers and young adults with mental illness". The Independent. London. 29 August 2015. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  8. ^ "The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers". Milkround Online. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  9. ^ "Become a Teach First Partner school". Teach First. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  10. ^ "The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers". Milkround. 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  11. ^ Letters (12 December 2017). "Children need trained teachers, not careerists | Letters". The Guardian. London. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  12. ^ Deerin, Chris (12 January 2018). "When it comes to schools, Nicola Sturgeon lacks the guts to take on McBlob". New Statesman. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  13. ^ "Coronavirus: Teach First drops 120 trainees as recruitment stalls". 17 June 2020.