About Teach First

Learn more about our organisation

Educational disadvantage remains one of the most destructive and pervasive problems in the UK – perpetuating inequality and confining thousands of young people up and down the country to a life of unrealised potential.

Teach First is a powerful movement founded to address this problem directly and, now in its seventh year, it has already changed the lives of thousands of young people. Teach First harnesses the energy, enthusiasm and drive of exceptional graduates to provide leadership, motivation and, above all, inspirational teaching in challenging schools across England.

• History & mission

  

  Since 2002, thousands of people – graduate participants and pupils – have been affected by Teach First’s mission to address educational disadvantage by transforming exceptional graduates into effective, inspirational teachers and leaders in all fields.

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• Supporters

  

  Organisations in every sphere of business, government and the not-for-profit sector share our drive and recognise the value that Teach First has brought to schools, its graduate participants and Ambassadors.

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• Schools & pupils

  

  Teach First has expanded rapidly and now works with schools across five regions. "Everyone was a bit nervous about all these unqualified teachers, but it's worked brilliantly," Head teacher, St Marylebone School.

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• Deferred entry schemes

  

  Hold your place with some of the UK’s leading graduate employers for two years, while you join Teach First’s Leadership Development Programme and help us to achieve our mission.

  
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At the same time Teach First’s two-year Leadership Development Programme gives graduates the skills, experience and leadership development training to reach the top level and excel in careers in any field.

Enthusiastically supported by the government, all major political parties, all of the head teachers' and teaching unions, and a host of high-profile corporate, public-sector and charity supporters, Teach First places high-calibre graduates in challenging schools for a minimum of two years to train and work as teachers (gaining Qualified Teacher Status as as part of a postgraduate / professional graduate certificate in education (PGCE award).

Beyond this, it works to mobilise, equip and support its growing Ambassador (alumni) movement to achieve the Teach First mission on a macro scale in the long term.