New teachers begin training for Welsh schools

Education charity Teach First Cymru has announced it will be placing over 30 new teachers in schools serving low income communities across Wales in September 2016.

Teach First recruits, trains and supports teachers specifically for schools in disadvantaged areas to tackle educational inequality by closing the attainment gap between the wealthiest and poorest students.

Educational inequality remains a persistent challenge in Wales where less than a third of pupils from low income backgrounds (31.6%) left secondary school in 2015 with five good GCSE’s, compared to 64.1% of their peers from non-free school meals backgrounds.

Teach First Cymru was launched in 2013, initially placing participants to teach English, Maths, Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) and Science in secondary schools.  Last year the charity expanded across the country and began recruiting Welsh language teachers. From September 2016 Teach First will be working with 38 schools towards a shared vision of a day when no child’s educational success is limited by their socio-economic background.

Today’s announcement comes during Teach First’s 2016 Summer Institute – an intensive six week training residential which prepares incoming participants to teach in school and marks the start of a two year Leadership Development Programme. The Teach First programme combines a salaried teaching role with ongoing training and support from schools, a university tutor and Teach First, leading to a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE). 

Summer Institute combines learning the theories of education at University of Wales Trinity St David with practical days spent in schools. The training was recently inspected by Estyn who concluded that “The university-based training… provides participants with a wide range of useful experiences to start to develop their knowledge and understanding of teaching”.

Last month applications to join the Teach First Leadership Development Programme in 2017 were opened and the charity is calling on those seeking a challenge with significant rewards to join thousands of others in England and Wales who have committed to ending educational inequality. 

Jennifer Owen-Adams, Teach First Cymru Director said:

“Sadly it’s still too often the case that if you grow up in a low-income community you are less likely to do well at school, find a decent job and lead a happy, healthy life.”

“Some of the UK’s most challenging education inequalities are seen in our country and while we’re narrowing the gap, there’s still so much more for us to do with our partner schools and communities to help give young people the best start in life.”

“We are always looking for people who have the energy, enthusiasm and gritty determination to ensure that every young person gets an excellent education, regardless of their background. Applications to our programme are now open and I encourage anyone wanting to make a real difference to the next generation to apply now.”