What we do

At Ambition Institute, we support teachers and school leaders to keep getting better, in the classroom and across their school or trust. We are a charity offering training and professional development, based on the most rigorous research and evidence about what really works.

Why we exist

A great teacher changes the future every day. Especially for children who have had a tough start in life, a teacher can be the critical factor in their success. At Ambition Institute, we support teachers and school leaders to keep getting better, in the classroom and across their school or trust. We are a charity offering training and professional development, based on the most rigorous research and evidence about what really works.

Study after study shows that the quality of teaching makes the biggest difference to what a child achieves: it has three times more impact than any other factor within a school’s control (RAND 2019).

For children who have had a tough start in life, it’s even more important. Too many children from disadvantaged backgrounds start school behind their classmates. For many children, this gap doubles by the end of primary school, and doubles again by the end of secondary school. This means that they are, on average, three times less likely to end up in employment, education or training (Education Policy Institute 2017).

The other critical factor is leadership. In schools with effective leaders, children do better, and teachers stay longer and are happier in their jobs

But how do we help teachers and leaders keep getting better?

The evidence points to professional development being the most cost-effective and sustainable way to help teachers and leaders develop their skills. (Zuccollo & Fletcher-Wood, 2020)

Investing in professional development is an important way to keep our teachers teaching and to nurture tomorrow’s school leaders (Zuccollo & Fletcher-Wood, 2020). Now, more than ever, we need to invest in a better future for our schools and for our children.

So our focus at Ambition Institute is providing the highest quality professional development, based on the most rigorous evidence of what really works.

What we do

We offer programmes for all levels, from early career teachers through to CEOs leading multiple schools. Teachers and school leaders can get support to tackle the challenges that get in their way, gaining the practical tools to make an even bigger impact in the classroom and across schools. From 2024, we will also be providing critical development at the start of a teacher’s career through initial teacher training. This will bring ambitious and committed teachers into the schools that need them the most.

In the last year, we have worked with 1 in 16 teachers in England; helping teachers and leaders shape the futures of 3 million children across England. That’s 3 million children who are getting better teaching, and a better chance at success, whatever their background.

Together, we’re shaping the future of education, to give every child the best start in life.