TeachFirst

Teach First’s mission is to address educational disadvantage by transforming exceptional graduates into effective, inspirational teachers and leaders in all fields.

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.

The charity Teach First is a powerful movement founded to directly address the problem of educational disadvantage. Founded in 2002, Teach First 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 schools in challenging circumstances across England.

Only 10% of all teachers would consider teaching in a school in challenging circumstances. Every Teach First teacher is placed in schools in challenging circumstances.

Of these, over 90% stay for a minimum of two years, over 50% stay longer and 67% of those placed since 2003 remain actively engaged with addressing educational disadvantage through Teach First’s ambassador community.

The need for Teach First is clear. Studies show that, in the UK, socio-economic status still determines whether young minds fulfill their potential. Just 16% of pupils who are eligible for free school meals progress to university, in comparison to 96% of young people educated in independent schools (Sutton Trust, 2010). Educational disadvantage is real and tangible in England today. Its causes and consequences are multi-faceted and complex.

Teach First believes that effective teachers have the power to address this issue. It enables its participants and ambassadors to raise pupil achievement, aspiration and access to opportunities, whilst developing a network of future leaders who strive to bring an end to educational disadvantage.

What does Teach First do?

• recruits exceptional graduates into teaching
• targets schools in challenging circumstances which experience high levels of poverty or underachievement amongst their pupils
• supports its teachers to raise pupil achievement, aspiration and access to opportunities
• focuses on developing leaders
• creates a movement for social change through its ambassador network