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Ambition Institute’s Early Career Training programme receives ‘outstanding’ rating from Ofsted

Sept. 2, 2025

We are pleased to share that Ambition’s Early Career Training (ECT) programme has been rated ‘outstanding’ across all areas by Ofsted in their recent inspection.

Together, with our partners, this recognition underscores our commitment to provide high-quality professional development for early career teachers and follows the previous outstanding rating in 2023. Since the 2021/22 academic year, as a lead provider of the ECT programme, over 56,000 early career teachers and mentors have started our Early Career Training programme.

Thanks to the hard work and support of our partners and Ambition staff, the inspection and report highlighted several key strengths of our programme:

  • Early career teachers are “exceptionally well prepared to apply what they have learned across a range of phases and settings,” meaning they are “fully equipped to enjoy successful and fulfilling careers in teaching.”
  • Ambition, alongside delivery partners, “is relentless in its desire to ‘keep getting better’.” Leaders “rigorously check, review and improve the quality of the curriculum, professional development and training.”
  • Early career teachers “apply what they have learned in their schools to excellent effect” and “build deep expertise in adapting the curriculum.” Mentors are described as “fundamental to the success of the programme,” receiving “high-quality training, including on ‘instructional coaching’.”

Ambition’s mission is clearly at the core of the programme, and the report acknowledged that our “commitment to improving the life chances and outcomes of disadvantaged pupils is reflected in the exceptional training early career teachers receive.” It also highlighted that “Early career teachers, mentors, trainers and leaders work collaboratively, sharing their insights to construct an exemplary programme.”

We know that supporting and investing in early career teachers is pivotal, and we are pleased that our programme equips them to make a positive difference for every pupil, no matter what their background.