Justine Greening launches new Institute for Teaching

The Institute for Teaching – which has received government funding to set up bespoke training programmes for teachers – will support and spread great teaching.

Its courses will be available for teachers at all stages of their career, including those wishing to become experts in their subject or wanting to learn the most effective ways to share best practice.

This investment in the profession is part of the government’s wider drive to build an education system that creates clear and rewarding career pathways for the people entering and progressing in teaching. It aims to provide support not just in those areas that are already set up to succeed, but – more importantly – in the areas where it is needed most.

Addressing an audience of teachers in Manchester, Education Secretary Justine Greening said:

It is an honour to launch the Institute for Teaching and see first-hand how thousands of teachers will benefit from these new training opportunities. We want to ensure every child can reach their potential, wherever they are growing up and great teachers are at the heart of this.

I want high-quality professional development to be a fundamental part of a teacher’s career and these new programmes – backed by government funding – will give them the skills, confidence and knowledge they need to provide a world class education for all children.

The Institute for Teaching will operate mainly in the North and central England, including in the Education Secretary’s Opportunity Areas which have been identified as social mobility ‘cold spots’.

The Institute for Teaching has received government funding as part of the £75 million Teaching and Leadership Innovation Fund. This fund supports new programmes to deliver knowledge and skills-based training for teachers. The first eight projects to benefit from the fund have now been announced and include programmes focused on leadership, managing challenging pupil behaviour, improving the quality of teaching and phonics.

Director of the Institute of Teaching, Matt Hood said:

Having an expert teacher in every classroom is the best way to make sure that every pupil, regardless of their background, gets a great education. But teaching is complex – becoming an expert isn’t easy. To improve teaching, we have to improve the training teachers get because most of what’s out there isn’t helping them to get better. Working with our partners, we’re trying to change that.