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Future High Potential Initial Teacher Training (HPITT) Programme

Department for Education

This public procurement record has 7 releases in its history.

Award

23 Jul 2026 at 15:57

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

29 May 2026 at 10:22

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

26 Sep 2025 at 15:06

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

01 Sep 2025 at 15:24

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

23 May 2025 at 10:44

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
PlanningUpdate

11 Apr 2025 at 08:09

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

20 Mar 2025 at 16:33

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education procured a national service to recruit and train teachers for schools serving disadvantaged communities in England. The requirement combines graduate attraction and selection with a two-year, employment-based initial teacher training programme, leadership development and support into teaching roles. The supplier is responsible for engaging schools and local partners, recruiting participants, delivering training with accredited providers where appropriate, supporting completion and retention, and building participant networks for career progression. The programme targets candidates with a 2:1 degree or above who might not otherwise enter teaching or work in disadvantaged schools, including recruitment in specified priority subjects while responding to local needs. The work covers education, vocational training and recruitment services.

This procurement is complete and was awarded to Teach First on 19 May 2026; the contract was signed on 24 June 2026. The single national contract runs from 24 June 2026 to 31 October 2031, with extensions possible to 31 October 2033 for up to two further cohorts. Its initial value is £53,658,000 and its total extended value is £89,000,000, both excluding VAT; the gross total is £106,800,000. The Department used an open competitive flexible procedure under the Light Touch Regime. The tender submission deadline was 13 November 2025, and the award decision period ended on 14 April 2026. Final tenders were assessed using a Price Per Quality Point model, balancing total tendered price with weighted quality. Initial Teacher Training accreditation, held directly or through a supply-chain partner, was required.

This requirement suits organisations able to run large, nationally coordinated teacher recruitment and training programmes, rather than firms offering general teacher supply or recruitment alone. A credible competitor would need strong graduate attraction and selection capability, established relationships with schools and local partners in areas facing recruitment difficulty, and the capacity to support participants through employment-based training into qualified teaching and leadership roles. Initial Teacher Training accreditation is central, either within the organisation or through a reliable delivery partner. Relevant strengths also include programme design, participant support, completion and retention management, subject-specific recruitment, performance data and quality assurance. Suppliers should be able to deliver measurable social value, develop participant networks and work within the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Future High Potential Initial Teacher Training (HPITT) Programme

Notice Description

The Department for Education (DfE) launched a procurement for the recruitment and training of teachers to support schools serving disadvantaged communities (referred to as the programme). The procurement was conducted under the Light Touch Regime using a Competitive Flexible Procedure, in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 following prior market engagement to inform the procurement strategy, programme scope, and delivery model. DfE sought a supplier capable of delivering a national, creative and impactful solution tailored to the needs of disadvantaged schools. We have awarded a single national contract with a supplier who shall hold sole accountability for delivery of the full programme scope, including school engagement, participant attraction, programme delivery, and participant support. The total extended contract value is PS89 million, with an initial value of PS53,658,000 covering three cohorts commencing in September 2027, 2028 and 2029. Provision is included to extend the contract to support up to two further cohorts starting in 2030 and 2031. The existing High Potential Initial Teacher Training contract concludes following completion of the 2026 cohort. This new contract ensures continuity of DfE support to recruit and train high quality participants to teach in schools serving disadvantaged communities. Programme Overview The programme supports the Government's ambition to enable every pupil to achieve and thrive through high quality teaching, which is the most significant in school factor influencing pupil outcomes. It is designed to help schools serving low income communities with high numbers of disadvantaged and low attaining pupils (Eligible Schools) to recruit the teachers they need to improve outcomes. The programme is intended to be a distinct and prestigious route into teaching, competing with other high profile graduate recruitment programmes. The supplier will design, develop and deliver a national, two year, employment based Initial Teacher Training and leadership development programme, with a strong focus on meeting local recruitment needs and achieving strong levels of participant completion and retention. Aims and Requirements The core aims of the programme are to: * Support Eligible Schools in England to recruit the teachers required to improve pupil outcomes; * Attract high quality candidates with a 2:1 degree or above who would otherwise be unlikely to enter teaching or work in disadvantaged schools, and who demonstrate the potential to become excellent teachers and emerging leaders; * Contribute to recruitment in specified priority subjects while retaining flexibility to respond to local school needs. The programme also supports longer term teacher retention by preparing participants for career progression in teaching and school leadership. The supplier is required to: * Build and maintain strong partnerships with schools and local partners in areas with the greatest recruitment challenges; * Attract, recruit and select specified numbers of high quality participants (1,000 participants commencing each cohort); * Deliver a high quality, two-year employment based Initial Teacher Training programme, in conjunction with accredited providers where appropriate, compliant with the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework; * Deliver an integrated leadership development offer; * Maximise completion rates and support participants into teaching roles beyond the programme; * Facilitate participant networks to support career progression and retention. Additional Information The programme will recruit three initial cohorts for the 2027/28, 2028/29 and 2029/30 academic years, with recruitment taking place in the preceding academic year. The first cohort is expected to commence training in September 2027, with recruitment beginning by October 2026. The recruitment target for each cohort is 1,000 participants and will form a key performance indicator (KPI). Additional KPIs will measure achievement of Qualified Teacher Status, programme completion, subject specific outcomes, and delivery of Social Value commitments. The successful supplier is permitted to use its own brand alongside the Teach Lead Change programme identity.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Subject to satisfactory performance and the necessary approvals, the contract may be extended to support up to two additional cohorts (2030 and 2031 cohorts). This may be achieved either through a single extension covering both additional cohorts, or through two separate extensions, each covering one additional cohort. Full details of the extension arrangements are set out in the tender documentation.

Planning Information

DfE is interested in consulting with organisations with relevant experience, insight and interest in being a potential lead supplier, consortium member or key supply chain partner. This could include organisations with experience of graduate recruitment and training or employment-based teacher training. An online pre-market engagement event is being held on Thursday 3rd April 2025 where the Department will share details and request feedback on the following: • Programme overview • Programme requirements • Performance measures • Commercial approach • Procurement approach and timing How to participate: Interested organisations must be registered on our Jaggaer e- procurement portal to access the Recruitment and Training of High Potential Trainees into Teaching (Future HPITT Programme) Conditions of Engagement. Prior to the 2024 election DfE previously held related market engagement in connection with this opportunity under ‘ssq_443’ (Recruitment and Training of High Potential Trainees into Teaching - Further pre-procurement market consultation). We are now building on that previous engagement reflecting new government priorities. As helpful background and context only, relevant materials shared during that engagement will be made available by registering against this project opportunity. A redacted version of the current contract (including current specification) is publicly available via the link below. Once registered for the event in Jaggaer, your organisation needs to express interest against the SSQ for the Future HPITT Programme listing and ‘respond’ to the opportunity. In providing a response you will be asked to acknowledge and accept the Conditions of Engagement, indicate if you want to opt out of your organisation being included in a post-event published Organisation Directory (to aid appropriate exploration of market partnership opportunities) and provide the names and roles of up to two people from your organisation to receive details of how to join the market engagement event on 3 April 2025. Please express your interest by 1200 noon on Tuesday 1st April 2025. If you encounter issues providing your response, please use the secure messaging function so we can assist. LINKS • https://education.app.jaggaer.com/ • DfEs e-procurement platform - Jaggaer. Click View Opportunities and register interest against the SSQ linked from the opportunity to access Attachment docs with further information. • https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f59286d2-87ae-4f48-a096-da0bb8d79bae • A redacted version of the contract (including current detailed specification) is viewable on the Contract Award Notice. • https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-criteria • https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-and-early-career-framework • Further information about requirements for delivery Initial Teacher Training Additional text The purpose of this notice is to continue market consultation to inform the programme design, performance measures and the commercial and procurement approach. Our market consultation objectives are to: 1. Continue to raise awareness of the potential future procurement process and to enable organisations to feed in their views and engage with each other on how a future contract could be successfully procured and delivered. 2. Communicate the programme priorities and create opportunity for the market to comment on potential aspects of the contract. This will assist the Department in structuring the requirements to enable innovation to maximise achievement of programme aims. 3. Consult on the commercial approach, structure and financial mechanisms that will inform how the Department scopes the requirements, and the potential procurement approach. Following the event, attendees will be invited to complete a post- event questionnaire to provide structured feedback on key aspects of the Future HPITT Programme, delivery model options, and procurement approach. We may also provide an opportunity for confidential one-on-one discussions with prospective lead suppliers, consortium members, or key supply chain partners to further explore the themes of the engagement event. Those interested in a follow-up discussion are encouraged to share an outline of their feedback beforehand, ideally through the post-event questionnaire, to support the justification for the discussion. This helps to ensure our engagement is conducted in line with the principles of transparency, fairness, and equal treatment as outlined in the Procurement Act 2023. DfE may also decide to host an additional engagement event prior to the launch of the formal tender process. This will offer suppliers further opportunities to ask questions and clarify any aspects of the procurement before the competition begins. Further details will be provided in due course. Who is the consultation aimed at? We welcome continued engagement with organisations who responded to our previous market notice as well as other organisations who are interested. Organisations with specialist expertise against key elements of the requirement and who may be interested in potential key supply chain, specialist contract or consortium opportunities are also encouraged to engage. When is the event planned? We have provisionally identified Thursday 3 April 2025 for the market engagement event. Once registered for the event in Jaggaer, please respond to receive details of how to join the market engagement event by 1200 noon on Tuesday 1st April 2025. In the interest of fairness, attendance will be limited to 2 people per organisation. Contact sharing: It is common for interested organisations to ask for contact details of other attendees following an event to explore potential collaboration opportunities. We are adopting assumed consent in sharing attendee names and email addresses after the event. You can opt out when responding to SSQ for the Future HPITT Programme to register to participate in market engagement. Further information and how to contact DfE: - Register on our Jaggaer e-procurement portal for access to documents and updates regarding this engagement opportunity and to use secure messaging with the Department (link to the portal home page below, click: View Opportunities) - Once registered you can access the Recruitment and Training of High Potential Trainees into Teaching (Future HPITT Programme) Consultation Document. - You can also access materials from previously held related market engagement in connection with this opportunity under ssq_443 (Recruitment and Training of High Potential Trainees into Teaching - Further pre-procurement market consultation). To provide background and context only, the materials shared during that engagement will be made available by registering against this project opportunity. - A redacted version of the current contract is viewable on the Contract Award Notice linked above Please note that while additional CPV codes related to recruitment services have been included in this notice, due to the recruitment element of the training program, this is not an opportunity for large-scale recruitment of existing qualified teachers or for supply teacher fulfillment. The focus of this requirement is the attraction and selection of unqualified candidates and to train them to be qualified teachers and future potential leaders within teaching. Recruitment activities will be limited to those specifically required for the successful delivery of the program. To note: this is not a call to competition and the Department is not bound to enter any procurement activity because of it. The Department is not committing to undertake any formal commissioning activity resulting from this notice although we may use the information gathered to support any future commercial activity.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04f6ee
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069906-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

79600000 - Recruitment services

80000000 - Education and training services

80530000 - Vocational training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£89,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£89,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£89,000,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£89,000,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
13 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
15 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
19 May 20263 months ago
Contract Period
24 Jun 2026 - 31 Oct 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for Education
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 3BT
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Teach First

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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