High Potential Initial Teacher Training and Leadership Development Programme 2022/23 con_8477

The Authority has appointed a contractor to deliver a single national contract for the provision of the Programme. The Programme aims to support the Government’s ambition that all schools in England must have access to high-quality teachers, especially those schools serving disadvantaged areas, by recruiting and developing high-quality graduates and career changers (Participants) who might not otherwise have considered teaching or working in a school serving economically disadvantaged pupils.

These participants will supplement the supply of new teachers into primary and secondary schools and early years settings serving low income communities, with high numbers of disadvantaged and low attaining pupils (Eligible Schools). The Programme is intended to attract participants with a 2:1 degree or above into teaching and place them in Eligible Schools.

The contractor is expected to provide a Programme that will successfully compete with other high profile and well-respected graduate recruitment programmes and to attract participants into teaching. Participants will be employed to fill vacancies, undertake employment-based initial teacher training and contribute to the schools’ overall improvement.

The key objectives of the Programme are to: • recruit the best and brightest graduates and career changers who have the potential to be highly skilled teachers and leaders and who would be otherwise unlikely to join the profession or work in an Eligible School; • train them to be highly skilled teachers and emerging leaders and fill teacher vacancies at Eligible Schools in England to help close the attainment gap between deprived pupils and their peers. The Programme should also prepare, support, inspire and encourage participants to consider the range of career progression pathways in education and promote the longer-term benefits of progressing a career in teaching or education sector.

The contractor is required to design and develop a high-quality and innovative Programme to deliver the following services which are described further in the procurement documents: • attraction of candidates; • candidate recruitment and selection; • initial teacher training; • leadership development; • participant retention and ongoing support; • school recruitment and placements; • contractor management information; • programme evaluation; • continuous improvement; • data management and security; • contractor performance management; • contractor assurance; • implementation and resourcing; • demobilisation and exit planning. The activities to attract, recruit and select candidates for the Programme commenced on or before October 2021.

The two cohorts commenced the training element of the Programme as follows: • the 2022 Cohort commenced year 1 of the Programme by the 30 September 2022 and year 2 of the Programme by 30 September 2023; and • the 2023 Cohort commenced year 1 of the Programme by 30 September 2023 and year 2 of the Programme by 30 September 2024. The 2022 Cohort completed the Programme by August 2024 and the 2023 Cohort shall complete by August 2025.

Following the provided for extension, agreed April 2023, the 2024 Cohort shall complete the Programme by August 2026 and the 2025 Cohort by August 2027. Following this modification there will be an additional 2026 Cohort that shall complete the Programme by August 2028.

The Authority anticipates that contract exit activity for the contract period (including extension and modification) shall be completed by October 2028. The contract value of the contract (including extension and modification period) is anticipated to be one hundred and thirty-seven million, two hundred and sixty four thousand, five hundred and six pounds (GBP 137 264 506.67) (excluding VAT).