Our LD Programme

Summer Institute

The Summer Institute is where it all starts. The residential component of your initial teacher training, this is where you begin to acquire the knowledge and skills that you need to teach lessons in your subject from the first day of term in school. You’ll gain your first experience in a local school, and meet the Teach First team and all your fellow participants. You'll also meet many Teach First Ambassadors – people who have completed the Leadership Development Programme and are now continuing to address educational disadvantage in their chosen careers. Who better to provide support and assist with your training?

Building relationships

The Summer Institute is an intensive six-week residential where you will work and live with your fellow Teach First participants. It’s your chance to begin building the close relationships – particularly with those participants who will be based in your school – that will help and sustain you through the two years ahead.

The first three weeks are held regionally, depending on the location of your placement school, and the final three weeks bring all our regions together for the National Summer Institute at The University of Warwick.

Employment based training

Your journey begins at the Summer Institute with a range of professional and subject training.

Your Subject Studies course, delivered by an experienced tutor, will give you a solid platform on which to base the teaching of your subject, building on the knowledge you have developed through your degree. You’ll learn how to prepare and implement lesson plans in your subject – such as designing science practicals or devising a new maths game to support an area of study.

Your Professional Studies course will provide you with the basic platform of knowledge on teaching techniques and theory, and classroom management – as well as specialised information covering issues such as special educational needs – to equip you as you begin the autumn term.

By the end of the Summer Institute you will have the tools and knowledge you need to be able to start teaching in September.