Teach First recruits largest ever cohort of trainees

• Charity grows the number of teachers recruited by 38% in a year   
• Most diverse group ever, increasing the proportion of BAME trainees to make up a fifth of this year’s cohort   
• STEM¹ trainees increase by 78% in a year  
• Urges the next Prime Minister to pledge investment for all teachers and schools to sustain growth 

These teachers will work in over 750 schools supporting an estimated 300,000 children over the next two years.    

This achievement comes at a time when the schools have faced tough teacher recruitment challenges, whilst the number of pupils and the size of classes continues to rapidly grow.   

This year marks the most diverse group of teachers in the charity’s history, as they make strides to make sure their programme is at the forefront of developing a teaching workforce as diverse as the pupils in today’s classrooms. In the last five years the charity has:

• Grown the proportion of BAME trainees² to 22% of this year’s cohort, compared to 15% in 2015;*    
• Doubled the proportion of LGBT+ trainees, making up 12% of this year’s cohort, compared to 6% in 2015;   
• Increased the number of trainees with disabilities, making up 17% of this year’s cohort, compared to 9% in 2015;   
• Increased the proportion of trainees who changed career to join Teach First, making up 30% of this year’s cohort, compared to 22% in 2015;   
• Grown the proportion of trainees who themselves attended a school in a disadvantaged area, making up 30% of this year’s cohort, compared to 16% in 2015.    
• Teach First has also significantly increased their number of trainees teaching subjects which are harder to recruit for. The charity has:   
• Grown the number of STEM trainees to 505, up from 283 last year - an increase of 78%;  
• Nearly doubled the number of Modern Foreign Language trainees to 95, up from 48 last year.   

Russell Hobby, CEO of Teach First said:   

“With schools finding it tough to recruit new teachers, especially in disadvantaged communities, it’s the pupils who suffer. So we’re delighted to have bucked recent trends with our record-breaking year of quality trainees. All teachers, whatever their route into teaching, are on the frontline of changing lives; unlocking the potential in our young people.    

“But with pupil numbers rapidly rising, this isn’t ‘job done’. We’re striving to make sure our teachers of the future truly reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. We know there are more people out there from all walks of life who could build a rewarding career in teaching and we’re determined to find them.   

“If the next Prime Minister wants the country to thrive, we need serious action. This means pledging to increase school funding, protect the pupil premium, and urgently address teacher starting salaries and workload. If we get this right, we can change the tide on teacher recruitment and retention, to change the direction of children’s lives.”

Including this year’s cohort, Teach First have trained and placed over 14,000 teachers in communities where they could make the biggest difference. The charity’s alumni now include nearly 60 headteachers and over 2,000 teachers in middle and senior leadership positions.   

The 1,735 trainees are currently completing a summer training residential in universities and schools, before starting at one of Teach First’s partner schools in September. They will teach a reduced timetable in year one while they work towards becoming a fully qualified teacher and gaining a postgraduate qualification in year two. They are supported throughout their two years by Teach First, a school mentor and a university tutor.  

ENDS

Note to editors

*BAME teachers make up 13% of teachers today in England³ while 33.5% of primary pupils and 31.3% of secondary pupils come from minority ethnic groups⁴  

¹This includes Science, Maths, Design and Technology and Computing  

²All figures represent candidates who disclosed this information  

³Department for Education: School Workforce in England: November 2018

⁴Department for Education: Schools, pupils and their characteristics: January 2019  

ENDS

Regional Breakdown 

London 

• Teach First recruited 649 teachers to work in London schools - a 51% increase in a year 
• These trainee teachers are set to work in over 315 schools in the capital’s most disadvantaged areas 
• Throughout the next two years the trainees will support an estimated 110,000 children in the East of England to achieve their potential 
• Most diverse national cohort ever, with London based BAME trainees making up 32%   
• STEM1 trainees in the region doubled over the last year  
• A fifth (19%) of the 2019 London based cohort are ‘career changers’   
• Nearly tripled the number of Modern Foreign Language trainees  

Yorkshire and the Humber 

• Teach First recruited 160 trainee teachers for schools in Yorkshire and the Humber 
• The trainee teachers will work in 99 schools, in the region’s most disadvantaged areas 
• Throughout the next two years the trainees will support an estimated 30,000 children in Yorkshire and the Humber to achieve their potential 
• STEM trainee teachers have grown by 56% 
• Most diverse national group ever, with ‘career changers’ make up a fifth of the cohort  

North East 

• Teach First has recruited 85 trainee teachers for schools in the North East – a 47% increase in a year 
• The trainee teachers are set to work in 70 schools in the regions most disadvantaged areas 
• Throughout the next two years the trainees will support an estimated 18,000 children in the North East to achieve their potential 
• STEM trainee teachers in the North East have increased by 85% 

North West 

• The charity has recruited 150 trainee teachers for 97 schools in the North West – a 42% increase in a year 
• Throughout the next two years the trainees will support an estimated 30,000 children in the North West to achieve their potential 
• STEM trainees in the North West increased by 77% to 53 
• Most diverse national group ever, with ‘career changers’ make up 33% of the 2019 cohort 

East of England 

• Teach First celebrates largest ever cohort of trainee teacher in the East of England 
• The charity has recruited 85 trainee teachers for the East of England’s schools – a 29% increase in a year 
• The trainee teachers are set to work in 70 schools in the region’s most disadvantaged areas 
• Throughout the next two years the trainees will support an estimated 13,000 children in the East of England to achieve their potential.  
• Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) trainee teachers in the East of England increased by 92% 

East Midlands 

• Teach First, the education charity, is celebrating a record-breaking year as they recruit 130 trainee teachers to work in 87 schools, located in the East Midland’s most disadvantaged areas. 
• Throughout the next two years the trainees will support an estimated 23,000 children in the East Midlands to achieve their potential.  
• Over the last year the charity has grown the number of STEM trainee teachers by 83%  
• Career changers make up 15% of the 2019 trainee teacher cohort 

West Midlands 

• Teach First celebrates its largest ever cohort in the West Midlands 
• The charity has recruited 229 trainee teachers – a 40% increase in a year 
• The trainee teachers will work in 137 schools, in the region’s most disadvantaged areas 
• Throughout the next two years the trainees will support an estimated 40,000 children in the West Midlands to achieve their potential 
• STEM trainees in the West Midlands increased by 70% since 2018  

South East and South Coast 

• Teach First, the education charity, celebrates recruiting 144 trainee teachers to work in 83 schools, located in region’s most disadvantaged areas.   
• Throughout the next two years the trainees will support an estimated 24, 000 children in the South East and South Coast to achieve their potential 
• STEM trainees in the East Midlands increased by 58% since 2018  
• Most diverse national group ever, with ‘career changers’ making up a fifth of the cohort

South West 

• Teach first celebrates its largest ever cohort of trainee teachers in the South West 
• The charity has recruited 79 trainee teachers – a 55% increase in a year 
• The trainee teachers are set to work in 61 schools in the region’s most disadvantaged areas 
• Throughout the next two years the trainees will support an estimated 14,000 children in the South West to achieve their potential 
• STEM trainees in the South West have more than doubled since 2018  
• Most diverse national group ever, with ‘career changers’ make up 27% of the 2019 cohort  

ENDS    

For interview, comment or case study requests, including different interview subjects (Teach First spokespeople and qualified Teach First teachers) for specific regions contact the Teach First media team by email or call 0203 841 8483.    

About Teach First   

Teach First is an education charity with a mission to build a fair education for all. Through a range of school leadership programmes the charity supports teachers, leaders and schools facing the biggest challenges, serving the most disadvantaged communities.    

The charity has now recruited over 14,000 teachers and leaders, has over 60 head teachers in their alumni and has supported over a million pupils.

Those on the Training Programme commit to a minimum of two years at their partner school, where they teach a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) timetable; and around half stay on for a third year. More than half of all the teachers who’ve completed training since 2003 are currently teaching.

The charity supports whole leadership teams through Leading Together. Develops individuals to become effective leaders through Middle Leader, Senior Leader and Headship programmes leading to a National Professional Qualification. And provides Career Leader training to develop a long-term, school wide careers strategy to improve student opportunities after school.    

Teach First currently operates in Wales and in all regions across England: London, West Midlands, East Midlands, Yorkshire the Humber, North West, North East, South East, South Coat, South West and the East of England.