Two charities that provide support for teachers and school leaders working in challenging contexts are to merge into one organisation to have a “greater impact”, it was announced today.
The Institute for Teaching and Ambition School Leadership both deliver programmes dedicated to improving the quality of teachers, school leaders and system leaders. Their particular focus is work with schools that serve significant numbers of disadvantaged pupils.
Work is currently underway to bring the two organisations’ programmes and participants together, to achieve greater reach and impact in schools. The new charity’s name has yet to be decided.
James Toop, chief executive at Ambition School Leadership, said the best teaching and school leadership has a disproportionately positive impact on pupils from low-income communities and the biggest impact on school improvement.
‘Clear development pathways’
“The most important part of school leadership is creating the conditions for effective teaching to take place,” he said.
“The Institute for Teaching provides some of the highest-quality teaching programmes in the sector that help leaders to deliver their vision for pupils. I’m really proud that our combined programme offer will provide clear and coherent development pathways at every level.”
Matt Hood, founder and director of the Institute for Teaching, said teachers and school leaders deserved as much effort to go into their development as they put into supporting their pupils.
“That’s why we believe that investing in the professionals who work in our schools not only helps them get better but means they are happier and stay in the profession for longer, “ he said. “Working with Ambition School Leadership gives us an opportunity to have an even greater impact.”
