---
title: "Future High Potential Initial Teacher Training (HPITT) Programme"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04f6ee"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04f6ee"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04f6ee.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04f6ee.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION"
published: "2026-05-29"
---

# Future High Potential Initial Teacher Training (HPITT) Programme

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04f6ee

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## Summary

The Future High Potential Initial Teacher Training (HPITT) Programme is managed by the Department for Education and aims to support schools in disadvantaged communities by recruiting and training high-quality teachers. The procurement process, conducted under the Light Touch Regime using a Competitive Flexible Procedure, began with a tender stage concluding in November 2025, followed by an award notice in May 2026. The programme seeks suppliers capable of delivering a creative and impactful solution through a single national contract valued at £89 million for initial cohorts starting from September 2027 to 2029, with potential extensions for additional cohorts through 2031. Key procurement stages, including planning and award processes, were scheduled to ensure continuity of teacher recruitment, catering primarily to education and training services across the United Kingdom.

This tender offers substantial business growth opportunities for organisations specialising in vocational training services, particularly those focused on education and teacher recruitment. Large-scale suppliers with expertise in partnership building and leadership development in low-income areas are well-positioned to compete. The contract encourages the creation of strong networks with schools and communities facing recruitment challenges, thus offering a platform for innovative and high-quality programme delivery. Eligible businesses have a chance to establish a significant presence in the public education sector by contributing to vital national targets, including training and leadership development of new teachers for high-need schools, serving as a prestigious entry into the teaching profession against competing graduate recruitment programmes.

## Notice

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 intend to award 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 indicative total 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 may use its own brand alongside the programme identity developed by the Department. Further details on the new programme identity will be published in due course.

### 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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050655-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 29 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 13 Nov 2025 |
| Future notice date | 15 Sep 2025 |
| Award date | 18 May 2026 |
| Contract period | 11 Jun 2026 - 31 Oct 2031 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £89,000,000 |
| Lots value | £89,000,000 |
| Awards value | £89,000,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 3BT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| 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) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | TEACH FIRST |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 79600000 - Recruitment services
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80530000 - Vocational training services

## Release History

- 29 May 2026 at 09:22 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050655-2026
- 26 Sep 2025 at 14:06 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060236-2025
- 1 Sep 2025 at 14:24 - Planning - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052879-2025
- 23 May 2025 at 09:44 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025885-2025
- 11 Apr 2025 at 07:09 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014422-2025
- 20 Mar 2025 at 16:33 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010507-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050655-2026
  29th May 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060236-2025
  26th September 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052879-2025
  1st September 2025 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025885-2025
  23rd May 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014422-2025
  11th April 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010507-2025
  20th March 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.teachfirst.org.uk
- https://education.app.jaggaer.com
- https://education.app.jaggaer.com/
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f59286d2-87ae-4f48-a096-da0bb8d79bae
- https://www.gov.uk/education/initial-teacher-training-itt
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-and-early-career-framework
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-criteria
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04f6ee. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04f6ee.json.