Future Teaching Scholars

Nurturing a new generation of passionate and talented maths and physics teachers. Delivered on behalf of the Department for Education in England between 2015 and 2025.

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About Future Teaching Scholars

The Future Teaching Scholars (FTS) programme provided an innovative route into teaching for exceptional maths and physics students. This initiative was funded by the Department for Education, with the aim of increasing the recruitment and retention of subject specialist maths and physics teachers across England.

These subject specialists, known as Scholars, enrolled in a six-year support package, receiving a grant of £15,000 over the first three years. During this period, 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.

As a result of this extensive support package and six-year commitment, Future Teaching Scholars boasts above national average teacher retention rates. 89.3% of scholars who started ITT have remained in the teaching profession after three years, as of the 2023-24 academic year.

The six-year support package 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.

This programme represents the most innovative route into teaching, structured around bringing outstanding subject knowledge into the classrooms in a way no other programme does. These scholars already show evidence against the Teaching Standards which other trainees do not develop until later in their ITT years. 18-year-olds who are inspired to teach would go off to university and lose this commitment without the ongoing support and engagement of this programme.
Emily Giubertoni, Regional Training Director, Bishop Challoner Catholic College

Longitudinal research study

Since the FTS programme nurtured its scholars from the beginning of their undergraduate degrees, it was necessary to devise a method of identifying prospective teaching talent. As part of the application process scholars were invited to an assessment centre, measuring their potential to become good or outstanding teachers.

Edt 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 present our findings in detail and provide recommendations to policymakers and education leaders.

Explore assessment centre research

Our impact

Impact in numbers

89.3% of scholars who started their ITT were retained in the teaching profession after three years (as of the 2024-25 academic year).
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:

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 (5/6 minutes):

Feedback from schools who have employed FTS scholars

“We were really impressed by the enthusiasm and commitment of the applicant we recruited. It is clear that the programme is an excellent way to find and nurture talent.”