Teaching School Hubs

Teaching School Hubs (TSHs) summary

TSHs are central to the training and development of teachers throughout their career, providing evidence-based programmes and qualifications. They support teachers to progress through whichever career pathway they choose.

As Good or Outstanding lead schools, TSHs apply their experience of raising standards through delivery of teacher development in the local area. This in-depth understanding of the local delivery context and professional development knowledge enables TSHs to engage with local schools to drive up recruitment and to deliver high-quality teacher development provision. TSHs support the development of teachers working in all phases and school types in their local area, through delivery of Initial Teacher Training (ITT), the Early Career Framework (ECF), National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) and Appropriate Body (AB) services.

These core TSH functions are integral to a high-quality and effective teacher development landscape. Further information on the expectations of TSHs from September 2024 can be found in Chapter 3 of the Teaching School Hubs: Application Guidance on Jaggaer.

TSH eligibility criteria

TSHs are designed to be school-led centres of excellence in professional development, run by some of the country's best schools and trusts. As such, the department's continued expectation is that only high-performing state schools and post-16 institutions are eligible to apply to become a TSH.

The designation process will be open to state-funded mainstream schools, post-16 institutions, special schools, Alternative Provision (AP) settings and maintained nursery schools.

It is a mandatory requirement that applicants are both an ECF and NPQ Delivery Partner and have experience of delivering ECF and NPQ training to participants. Applicants are required to confirm their eligibility when applying. Further to this, there are minimum school performance eligibility criteria that applicants must meet to be eligible.

To be eligible to apply, all schools must meet the following eligibility criteria:

- Rated Good or Outstanding at the latest Ofsted inspection. - Current Early Career Framework (ECF) Delivery Partner. - Current National Professional Qualification (NPQ) Delivery Partner. - Meet the school performance eligibility criteria relevant to their phase.

If an application is successful, the lead school will be invited to sign a grant funding agreement lasting for five academic terms. Please see the Teaching School Hubs: Application Guidance for further information.

Additional information: Dates

18 Sept 2023: TSH application round opens - eligibility criteria, guidance and application documents are published via Jaggaer. Grant opportunity published via Contracts Finder and Find a Grant.

13 Oct 2023: Deadline for submission of clarification questions at 17:00.

20 Oct 2023: Deadline for all schools (including special, AP and maintained nursery schools) to submit application, with the performance form, via Jaggaer at 12:00.

Oct 2023 - Feb 2024: DfE evaluation and moderation of bids, securing ministerial and cross-government approvals.

29 Feb 2024: Successful applications announced.

Mar - Apr 2024: Successful applicants to receive TSH handbook.

Mar - 31 Aug 2024: Transitional arrangements period: official handover from current TSHs to any newly designated TSHs, in hub areas where a new lead school is designated.

May - July 2024: Submission and approval of delivery plans. 1 Sep 2024: TSHs are fully operational.

Attachments

The following documents will be available to view in Jaggaer:

- Teaching School Hubs: Application Guidance. - Initial Teacher Training Q&A. - Performance forms for special, Alternative Provision and nursery school applicants. - Technical question 1: answer template. - Technical question 2: answer template. - Technical question 3: answer template.

Please see the Teaching School Hubs: Application Guidance on Jaggaer for further information on the competition, such as instructions on how to apply.

Additional Information

The department reserves the right not to proceed with any grant award and funding may be subject to change at the department's absolute discretion. Accordingly, the department will not be liable for any bid cost, expenditure, work, or effort incurred by any school or other organisation based on this grant competition.

This grant competition will be run via the department's e-tendering portal, Jaggaer. It is recommended that to avoid missing out, applicants access this system to register as soon as possible using the link provided.

All information included in this notice is indicative and may be subject to change. Please note that the department is not bound to enter into any grant agreement. Funding for the TSH may be subject to change at the department's absolute discretion.