Future Teaching Scholars

The Future Teaching Scholars (FTS) programme was created to provide an innovative route into teaching for exceptional maths and physics students. These subject specialists, known as Scholars, enrolled in a six-year support package which included:

• a £15,000 grant, paid over three years during their undergraduate degree
• coaching and mentoring from a regional training centre
• access to exclusive scholar-only networking events and annual CPD conferences
• direct support from an employment co-ordinator to find their first teaching job
• access to relevant association memberships and opportunities.

During the first three years, the FTS programme provided regular practical in-school experiences as well as training sessions – all whilst studying an undergraduate degree in maths or physics-related subjects.

Upon graduation, the programme continued to support scholars as they began initial teacher training (ITT), through to the end of their early career teacher (ECT) years. In total, four cohorts of scholars were supported by the FTS programme between 2016 and 2025.

Longitudinal research study

As part of the application process, we devised a method of identifying prospective teaching talent. Prospective scholars were invited to an assessment centre, measuring their potential to become 'good' or 'outstanding' teachers.

We conducted a longitudinal study through FTS which aimed to explore if teaching potential can be accurately predicted using assessment centres. It found that classroom simulation was the best predictor of teaching ability compared with other selection activities, and could therefore support teacher recruitment effectively.

In edt’s final report published from this study in 2024, we presented our findings in detail and provide recommendations to policymakers and education leaders.

Impact in numbers

• 90% of scholars who started their ITT were retained in the teaching profession after three years (as of the 2024-25 academic year) - compared to a national average of 73%.
• Over 22,500 students have been directly impacted by FTS scholars in the classroom as of 2025.
• 56% of FTS scholars were female, breaking the gender gap widely observed across STEM subjects and occupations.
• Upon starting their ITT year, our scholars were on average teaching at a level that was at least one academic term in advance of expectations.

Furthermore, many of our scholars have already begun to progress in their teaching career, moving into middle leadership roles including Head of Year, Head of Maths, and KS4 Coordinator within just three years of teaching.

Scholar Stories

At the final National Conference in 2025, we asked many of our scholars about their teaching journey and how the Future Teaching Scholars programme has impacted their growth. Watch the video below (5 minutes) to hear from our scholars directly:

Meet Bethan

Throughout the programme, we also captured individual scholar stories which provide more detailed snapshots at key stages of their teaching career. Bethan, who graduated from the programme in 2025, shared three years of their FTS journey with us: from initial teacher training through to the end of their second ECT year. You can watch their journey below (5 minutes):