Manchester's Teach First program earns outstanding rating

Teach First is a registered charity and leadership development program.
Teach First is a registered charity and leadership development program. | File photo
The University of Manchester is celebrating an outstanding rating from the U.K.'s Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills.

Teach First is a registered charity and leadership development program offered throughout England. The University of Manchester's program, which trains teachers to improve the scholastic achievement of disadvantaged students, earned the highest possible marks across all rubric categories.

The report praised the teachers' self-motivation, the quality of the tasks they designed for students, and the high level of student confidence in their classrooms, among other virtues.

“We are delighted that this report confirms that our commitment to the university-wide goal of social responsibility is being realized everyday through our work," Head of Initial Teacher Education at The University of Manchester and Executive Director of Teach First Northwest David Spendlove said. "The outstanding outcome is recognition of the tireless work of Teach First, university tutors, mentors, local schools and Teach First participants all working towards a common goal of improving the lives of children in the Northwest. This is a tremendous achievement for all involved and recognizes our commitment to high quality teacher education.”

The Office for Standards inspects and regulates educational and other institutions that provide services for young people.