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Scholar earns promotion as FTS bucks the national teacher retention trend

14th July 2023

We are proud to share that one of our exceptional Scholars has been promoted to the position of Deputy Head of Maths – whilst still in his second year as an early career teacher!

Jaden Read, who received the promotion earlier this year, has just completed his sixth and final year of the FTS Programme this summer. He attained Qualified Teacher Status in 2021 and has been teaching maths at The Oxford Academy since becoming a qualified teacher.

Talking to us about his new responsibilities as Deputy Head of Maths, Jaden explained: “Alongside my ECT responsibilities, I am responsible for curriculum development, assessment planning and setting within KS3, as well as supporting with timetabling and budgetary issues. My school has been very supportive in ensuring that I can manage all of my roles, without feeling overwhelmed.”

In addition to our talented Scholars achieving success within their schools, they are also bucking the national trend with stronger than average retention rates. Whereas 93% of our Scholars who completed ITT have remained in teaching after three years, 76% of teachers nationally who qualified at the same time have stayed in teaching.

The FTS programme is funded by the Department for Education and is one of Education Development Trust’s longest standing UK programmes. Launched in 2016 as a six-year programme, 78 Scholars have completed the programme to date and a further 77 Scholars are in employment in secondary schools across England.

Jaden added: “The Future Teaching Scholars programme offers a really well thought-out and structured introduction to teaching. The team was invaluable in the ITT process, helping us to find our initial placements and ensuring we settled in well.”

Several of our other Scholars have also been promoted within their schools, whilst still in their ECT years – including to roles as Mastery Lead and Key Stage 4 Coordinator.

“Future Teaching Scholars have so many factors in their favour – passion for their specialist subject, commitment and dedication to teaching, and the fantastic experience from the undergraduate part of the programme,” commented Kate Wastie, FTS Programme Delivery Manager.

“It is incredible to see our Scholars progress in their teaching careers so quickly as a result of their hard work and ambition, and the team is so proud and excited to see what the Scholars do next.”