Teach First

📊 There are up to five times more teacher vacancies in the poorest areas of England. Our role is to inspire and equip ambitious individuals to lead change – in their classrooms, schools and communities. 📢 As a movement of Change Makers, we’re working to rewrite the future to ensure every child, no matter their background, has brilliant teachers and support to help them thrive.

“I’m a mum. That is who I am. And it’s having the confidence to say, ‘I can do both.’” When Farihah Alam returned from maternity leave to step into an interim headteacher role, she faced the question: Can I lead and still be present as a parent? Through the Remarkable Women programme, she found her answer — yes, she can. “It was the best thing I’ve done — and I’ve done a lot of programmes. But this was different.” In a space where motherhood and leadership weren’t either/or, Farihah connected with women navigating the same questions and ambitions. “That merging of the two worlds is something that I haven't come across before in terms of training or development.” Farihah’s still fired up, still learning and now Vice Principal at Buille Hill Academy. 👉 Want to learn more about how Teach First supports leadership journeys like Farihah’s? Apply for our Remarkable Women programme before 15 November. https://lnkd.in/eGW7p2wq

Over the past few weeks, we've attended party conferences with our ambassador community. Together, we’ve shared the challenges schools face and highlighted the vital role teachers play in ensuring that children from all backgrounds can thrive.    A real highlight was bringing two pupils from our brilliant partner school All Saints Catholic High School in Knowsley, to join a Mission 44 roundtable to give their views on how student experience can better influence education policy. We were pleased to see the Government’s commitment to ensure that two-thirds of young people reach higher-level study, and its introduction of maintenance grants to support young people from low-income backgrounds to pursue university and college study. But we know there's still more to be done.   Together, as a movement of Change Makers, we are working across politics, policy and education to end educational inequality. We look forward to continuing the conversation over the coming weeks and months.

Our Leading Together programme pairs senior teams with experienced coaches to strengthen leadership behaviours, build confidence and create lasting change. 🤝 👉Find out more: https://ow.ly/CFE650X09Wf

As Joanne (pictured right) steps down after leading our Ethnicity Staff Network, she reflects on the enormous impact the group has had to rewrite the future on herself, on Teach First and across the wider education sector – a timely reflection as we mark #BlackHistoryMonth 💬 “Against this backdrop, our affinity network became more than a support system for staff. It became a space of resistance, healing, learning and celebration.” From writing an open letter in response to the Child Q report, that was signed by a coalition of educators, journalists and politicians demanding systemic change, to speaking on BBC Radio, Joanne chose to use her platform: “Silence is complicity and I chose to speak.” One of her proudest moments was helping ensure authors of colour were no longer invisible in English Literature curriculums. “These victories weren’t just symbolic. They were major shifts that will shape how young people see themselves and others.” Through her leadership, the network championed diverse recruitment pipelines and brought together vital conversations on racial justice in education. 🤝 Read Joanne’s full reflections: https://ow.ly/B7rz50X9aeX

📊 Pupils growing up in the poorest areas are twice as likely to leave school without strong English and Maths GCSEs. The challenge has never been greater. The need has never been more urgent. 📢 We need to rewrite the future to end educational disadvantage, so every child has the opportunity and support to flourish.

✨ Headteacher Anthony McGuiness is rewriting the future at All Saints Catholic High School – one leader at a time. When Anthony joined, the school was in Special Measures. Working with Teach First through the Leading Together Programme, he and his team restored trust, raised aspirations, and turned challenges into progress. After laying the ground, All Saints were delighted to go from Special Measures to Good in their latest Ofsted inspection – a remarkable turnaround powered by collaboration and leadership. We’re proud to spotlight schools like All Saints. Together, as a movement of Change Makers, we are working to rewrite the future to end educational disadvantage, so every child has the opportunity and support to flourish. 👉 Read the full story on our blog: https://ow.ly/mMRE50X8jwz

🚀Ready to kick-start your teaching career and make a difference in your own community? You can train to teach locally, qualify in 12 months, and inspire young lives on our School-Centred Initial Teacher Training programme. 📚 📣Power up your postcode - applications are now open: https://ow.ly/Sl3P50X708h

The Careers & Enterprise Company’s new report shows how early careers learning helps children see beyond stereotypes. 📄 The #StartSmallDreamBig pilot programme has shown what’s possible when schools, employers and communities come together as a movement of Change Makers to help inspire children about their futures from an early age especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. 💡 “It’s a powerful example of how the right support and training can equip teachers to unlock potential early in a child’s development, help them see what’s possible and ultimately rewrite their futures.” - Our CEO James Toop. In disadvantaged communities, where the need is greatest, that power can help children see what’s possible, believe in their potential and ultimately rewrite their futures. 📘Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eXh4V5mn

🚀 Ambassador and Principal Michael Baxter is rewriting the future at City of London Academy, Southwark – one peer mentor at a time. Their Year 14 MVPs (Most Valuable Players) are alumni who stay on for a gap year to mentor younger pupils. They work alongside teachers in lessons with academic catch-up and daily lesson drop-ins to check in on pupils who may be struggling. These ‘little and often’ interventions help the pupils stay or get back on track, by giving them support from a peer they look up to. Many MVPs come from the school’s basketball programme, which has enabled over 80 student-athletes to gain 100% scholarships to top US universities. We’re proud to spotlight schools leading innovative approaches. Together, as Change Makers, we’re rewriting the future in and beyond the classroom so every child can flourish. 👉 Read the full story on our blog: https://ow.ly/fU3k50X5JUQ