Trustee

Teach First is a charity that believes education is the most powerful tool to help a child fulfil their potential. We find and train change-makers to teach in the schools that need them most; we equip school leaders with evidence-led training; we support local teacher training providers; and we plug education leaders into supportive professional networks. We are a movement, working within the classroom and beyond, to bring an end to educational inequality. Because a child’s future shouldn’t depend on their postcode.

Teach First Board of Trustees

Chaired by Dame Vivian Hunt, our Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance of Teach First, ensuring it is run in accordance with our Charity Articles and the law. Our Trustees are all non-executives, who volunteer their time to support our work.

Trustees meet regularly as the Board of Trustees to focus on strategy, performance and assurance and to make decisions in relation to:

• the long-term strategic direction of the Charity, ensuring delivery of its objectives and ongoing public benefit
• the Charity’s financial and other resources, ensuring these are adequate, managed appropriately and that the Charity remains solvent
• implementing policies, controls and activities which will support the Charity’s objectives; and
• compliance with relevant laws and regulation.

Trustee role description

The Board of Trustees is looking to appoint a Trustee with:

• Strategic understanding of the education policy landscape and the research and evidence base needed to drive education system change, with the ability to influence and activate decision-makers.
• Influence and experience in building networks to deliver and scale impact across the sector.
• A commitment to, and experience working towards, Teach First’s charitable mission to end educational inequality.

This Trustee would be expected to:

• attend and participate in regular Board of Trustees meetings (usually four per year, plus an extended meeting to focus on strategy at the beginning of each academic year)
• attend and participate in meetings of the Education Committee (usually four per year), a formal sub-committee of the Board of Trustees, which advises the Board on Teach First’s education strategy and provides assurance to the Board on the quality and impact of the Charity’s educational activities
• provide strategic advice and support to members of the senior management team in a non-Executive capacity
• participate in the recruitment of Executive roles, when necessary, and provide support in hearing appeals from trainees
• declare any interests (financial or otherwise) which give rise to an actual or perceived conflict with the business of the Board.

Board meetings are held in person, either at Teach First’s London office or in a school setting. Sub-committee meetings usually take place online.

The time commitment for this non-remunerated role is approximately one day per month, including preparation for meetings.

In addition to attendance at formal Board and sub-committee meetings, there are opportunities for Trustees to be involved in the day-to-day work of the Charity in support of its objectives e.g. fundraising activity, meeting with supporters, attending events, joining working groups looking at new areas of strategic activity or acting as mentors to senior employees.

Appointments to the Board of Trustees shall be for a period of three years, renewable up to a maximum of nine years served. Most Trustees will serve two three-year terms.

Our governance structure

The Board has three permanent sub-committees, each providing oversight of, and advice on, a defined area of the Charity’s work. Sub-committee membership comprises Trustees, Teach First Ambassadors (alumni of its programmes), and, in some cases, external members, who are co-opted on the basis of their expertise in a particular field.

The Board has an Education Committee, a Finance, Risk and Audit Committee (FRAC), and a Nominations Committee. Nominations Committee is responsible for the composition of the Board and its sub-committees.

If you would like to be considered for this important role at Teach First, please submit a CV and Cover Letter detailing your experience and suitability.

We expect to hold Formal interviews and informal conversations from 30th June – 11th July 2025, with induction beginning in July and August 2025.

Job Location

East Midlands (Nottingham); East of England (Norwich); London; North East (Newcastle Upon Tyne); North West (Manchester); South Coast (Bournemouth); South East (Kent); South West (Bristol); West Midlands (Birmingham); Yorkshire & The Humber (Leeds)

DBS Required

Next Steps

We aim to update candidates if we’ll take their application forward within 10 working days of the closing date. We will not review any applications received after the closing date.

Closing Date

20 Jun 2025