Teach First celebrates five year anniversary

A unique two-year programme designed to transform high-calibre graduates from Imperial and other UK universities into inspiring educational leaders celebrates five year anniversary.

Teach First is a unique two-year programme that transforms high-calibre graduates into inspiring leaders through experience as paid teachers in challenging London, Midlands or Greater Manchester secondary schools. Graduates of the programme achieve Qualified Teacher Status and benefit from an innovative business skills and leadership training course that has been created in conjunction with Imperial's Tanaka Business School, as well as unparalleled internship, networking and coaching opportunities with Teach First’s numerous industry supporters. The programme was launched five years ago and graduates from Imperial College have been involved from the start.

In Autumn 2001, London First and Business in the Community, two business membership organisations dedicated to community involvement, engaged management consultants, McKinsey and Company on a pro bono basis. McKinsey's brief was to investigate how businesses could help improve pupil performance in London. The McKinsey team found that the number of excellent teachers in a school was one of the strongest predictors of improved pupil performance, especially in challenging schools. Inspired by the highly successful Teach For America programme, they recommended a programme targeted at top graduates, using the support of businesses and education leaders to bring additional excellent teachers into challenging schools for two years. The result was Teach First, which was officially launched on 15 July 2002 by former minister for London schools, Stephen Twigg. The first cohort of 200 graduates entered the scheme a year later.

Now four years later, over 800 graduates have been placed in challenging London secondary schools. Recruiting is underway for the fifth cohort of graduates who will be placed not just in London but also in Greater Manchester and the Midlands. The teaching profession and worlds of business, policy, non-profit and industry have benefited from an influx of Teach First ambassadors - leaders equipped and strategically positioned to improve the lifelong productivity of young people.

If you are looking for a graduate job and would be interested in joining a challenging and socially responsible graduate programme with the UK’s Times Top 100 number 14 ranked graduate employer, Teach First are recruiting now for entry into the June 2008 programme. To find out more or to apply, please visit www.teachfirst.org.uk.  Early application is strongly recommended as some subjects fill up very fast!