TEACH FIRST CYMRU

THE summer holiday is over and, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, children have returned to school this month. At the same time in Wales, many hundreds of new teachers have taken their first steps in the classroom with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Among them are our new cohort of Teach First Cymru teachers. Teach First Cymru recruits and trains teachers specifically for schools serving disadvantaged communities. Our mission is to work with partners to ensure no child’s educational success is determined by socioeconomic background.

Over the past four years, over 150 recent graduates and career-changers have started their journey with us. We have worked with over a quarter of all secondary schools in Wales and feedback from headteachers and independent evaluations show our teachers make a real difference.

We are very proud that almost half our trainees are career-changers, as they bring a diverse range of experiences which enrich the teaching profession. This year they are embarking on a new programme, delivered in partnership with schools and Cardiff Metropolitan University, based on an innovative new qualification – a Postgraduate Diploma in Education.

In launching this new model with the support of the Central South Wales Consortium, we have built a programme which is thoroughly made-in-Wales but globally informed – drawing on the latest teacher training research from around the world.

Now is a brilliant time to become a teacher in Wales. For the last two years we have worked with WalesOnline to highlight positive stories from our schools – the successes, the turnarounds and the impact teachers make on the lives of their pupils every day.

The reform programme encapsulated this week by Welsh Government’s new action plan Education in Wales: Our National Mission aims to make teachers in Wales the envy of their colleagues in the UK.

Reforms being enacted in collaboration with the Welsh Government promise to shape a new education landscape. The Donaldson curriculum aims to help schools respond to global and technological challenges. Changes to Initial Teacher Education and professional standards mean teachers in Wales will be entitled to career-long continuous professional development and training unmatched elsewhere in the UK.

One feature of our most successful schools is inspiring headteachers and senior leadership teams with the vision, skills and determination to deliver for their community. Today’s trainees will be tomorrow’s leaders and we believe the reforms will help them gain the skills to get there.

Education in Wales is on an exciting journey and we need committed, inspirational entrants to the profession to help work towards this national mission. We all want the very best for all children, everywhere, so why not be part of the change? Applications for Teach First Cymru’s 2018 cohort are now open. To find out more visit www.teachfirst.org.uk

Owen Evans is Director for Teach First Cymru