Teach First: Recruitment
(asked on 17th June 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many student teachers were recruited to Teach First in each of the last five years.
Data provided in this response is specifically in relation to the High Potential Initial Teacher Training programme (HPITT) delivered by Teach First.
The table below shows the total student teachers recruited to the HPITT programme in each of the last five cohorts.
Cohort Year | Total trainees on HPITT programme. |
2021 | 1,518 |
2022 | 1,394 |
2023 | 1,334 |
2024 | 1,415 |
2025 | 1,434 |
The table below shows the percentage of trainees who completed the two year programme and overall dropout rate. For cohorts 2024/2025, we have provided our current performance data (correct at 31 May 2026) with actuals due to be confirmed at milestone points in the future.
Cohort Year | Total trainees in cohort | % of trainees completing the two-year programme | % drop out rate from programme |
2021 | 1,518 | 82% | 18% |
2022 | 1,394 | 75% | 25% |
2023 | 1,334 | 78% | 22% |
2024 | 1,415 | 79% (TBC - due August 26) | 21% (TBC) |
2025* | 1,434 | 91% (TBC - due August 27) | TBC |
Data for the 2025 cohort is based on the current withdrawal rates in year 1 of the program as provided by Teach First.
The table below shows the spending for the last five financial years on the HPITT programme (ex VAT).
Financial year | Total cost in financial year |
21/22 | £37,506,990 |
22/23 | £25,696,327 |
23/24 | £21,057,427 |
24/25 | £22,172,463 |
25/26 | £22,981,020 |
This data is reported monthly by the department via a transaction report. We have provided a total of 12 months of financial data together within the table for each financial year. Individual reports are available on GOV.UK.