Official UK procurement notice
Future High Potential Initial Teacher Training (HPITT) Programme
Authority: Department for Education (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe 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 £89 million, with an initial value of £53,658,000 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.
- How the procedure runs: The procurement will follow the Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. The anticipated key stages are as follows: Issue of Procurement Documents - Full tender documentation made available to potential suppliers. Deadline for Initial Bid Clarification Questions - Suppliers submit questions on the initial tender documents. Clarification Responses Issued by Contracting Authority - Responses to supplier queries provided. Initial Tender Submission Deadline - Deadline for submission of initial bids. Evaluation and Governance Period (Initial Bids) - Assessment of initial tenders in accordance with the evaluation criteria. Notification of Initial Outcome and Feedback - Initial results and feedback shared with suppliers. A clarification and dialogue phase with shortlisted suppliers. Invitation for Final Tender Submissions issued. Deadline for Final Bid Clarification Questions - Final opportunity for suppliers to seek clarification. Final Tender Submission Deadline - Deadline for submission of final bids. Evaluation and Governance Period (Final Bids) - Final assessment of tenders. Contract Award Notice and Standstill Period - Publication of award decision, and commencement of the standstill period.
CPV: Education and training services · Recruitment services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£89,000,000
- Economic & financial standing
The potential supplier must either hold Initial Teacher Training accreditation or work with a supply chain partner who has Initial Teacher Training accreditation.
Please see www.gov.uk/education/initial-te… ↗ for more information.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
- Total Tendered Price: Contract Charges and modelled School Fee rates as further described within the tender pack.
- Total Weighted Quality Score: Total Weighted Quality Score as further described within the tender pack.
- Economic & financial standing
The potential supplier must either hold Initial Teacher Training accreditation or work with a supply chain partner who has Initial Teacher Training accreditation.
Please see www.gov.uk/education/initial-te… ↗ for more information.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA, CPTPP)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 20 Mar 2025, 16:33 GMT
- Last source update
- 23 Jul 2026, 15:57 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 14 Apr 2026
- Authority reference
ITT_3787- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-060236- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04f6eeFind a Tender
- How it runs
The procurement will follow the Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. The anticipated key stages are as follows:
Issue of Procurement Documents - Full tender documentation made available to potential suppliers.
Deadline for Initial Bid Clarification Questions - Suppliers submit questions on the initial tender documents.
Clarification Responses Issued by Contracting Authority - Responses to supplier queries provided.
Initial Tender Submission Deadline - Deadline for submission of initial bids.
Evaluation and Governance Period (Initial Bids) - Assessment of initial tenders in accordance with the evaluation criteria.
Notification of Initial Outcome and Feedback - Initial results and feedback shared with suppliers.
A clarification and dialogue phase with shortlisted suppliers.
Invitation for Final Tender Submissions issued.
Deadline for Final Bid Clarification Questions - Final opportunity for suppliers to seek clarification.
Final Tender Submission Deadline - Deadline for submission of final bids.
Evaluation and Governance Period (Final Bids) - Final assessment of tenders.
Contract Award Notice and Standstill Period - Publication of award decision, and commencement of the standstill period.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 13 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 20 Oct 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
20 Mar 2025 → 23 Jul 2026 · 11 dates- Planning notice published20 Mar 2025, 16:33 GMT
- Market engagement30 May 2025, 23:59 BST
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
- 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.
- www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f59286d2-87ae… ↗
- A redacted version of the contract (including current detailed specification) is viewable on the Contract Award Notice.
- www.gov.uk/government/publicati… ↗
- www.gov.uk/government/publicati… ↗
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Next notice expected15 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published392 days ago26 Sept 2025, 15:06 BST
- Clarification questions by368 days ago20 Oct 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline344 days ago13 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by192 days ago14 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts182 days ago25 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent158 days ago19 May 2026, 00:00 BST
- Standstill ends136 days ago9 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published92 days ago23 Jul 2026, 15:57 BST
Notice history
15 events · 7 releases on Find a Tender · since 20 Mar 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published20 Mar 2025, 16:33 GMTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published11 Apr 2025, 08:09 BSTUK2
- Pipeline notice published23 May 2025, 10:44 BSTUK1
- Status changed to planned23 May 2025, 10:44 BST
- Planned procurement notice published1 Sept 2025, 15:24 BSTUK3
- Published value updated to £89,000,0001 Sept 2025, 15:24 BSTwas £150,000,000
- Procurement method changed1 Sept 2025, 15:24 BST
- Deadline published: 27 Oct 2025, 23:59 GMT1 Sept 2025, 15:24 BST
- Tender notice published26 Sept 2025, 15:06 BSTUK4
- Status changed to active26 Sept 2025, 15:06 BST
- Deadline moved to 13 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT26 Sept 2025, 15:06 BST+17 days · was 27 Oct 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Contract award notice published29 May 2026, 10:22 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete29 May 2026, 10:22 BST
- Contract signature expected12 Jun 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published23 Jul 2026, 15:57 BSTUK7
Routine re-releases (7)
- 2025-09: 1 release · 1 Sept 2025
- 2025-05: 1 release · 23 May 2025
- 2025-04: 1 release · 11 Apr 2025
- 2025-03: 1 release · 20 Mar 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teach FirstVCSEFuture High Potential Initial Teacher Training Programme 2027 - 2029 cohorts12 Jun 2026 – 31 Oct 2031 · up to 31 Oct 2033Extensions: Provision is included to extend the Contract to support up to two additional training cohorts commencing in 2030 and 2031. The extension may be exercised either as a single modification covering both cohorts or as two separate extensions, each covering one cohort. | £89,000,000 | 19 May 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Future High Potential Initial Teacher Training Programme 2027 - 2029 cohorts · Teach FirstVCSE
- Signed
- 24 Jun 2026
- Value
- £89,000,000
- Period
- 24 Jun 2026 – 31 Oct 2031 · up to 31 Oct 2033 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Provision is included to extend the Contract to support up to two additional training cohorts commencing in 2030 and 2031. The extension may be exercised either as a single modification covering both cohorts or as two separate extensions, each covering one cohort.
5 agreed KPIs: KPI1 - Number of Participants that start Year 1 of the Programme per cohort · KPI2 - Participant Achievement of Qualified Teacher Status · KPI3 - Participant Programme Completion …
- KPI1 - Number of Participants that start Year 1 of the Programme per cohort, 1000 Participants in a Cohort should commence Year 1 of the Programme. Measure is taken at the start if Year 1 of each Cohort and is the number of Participants that have started work as an unqualified teacher on or by 30 September. Success will be measured against the validated total number of Programme Starts on Year 1 of the Programme taken from the Buyer’s Register of Trainee Teachers service and from data provided by the Supplier.
- KPI2 - Participant Achievement of Qualified Teacher Status, 900 Participants in a Cohort should achieve Qualified Teacher Status. Measure is taken at the end of Year 2 of each Cohort of the Programme on 31 August (of the respective contract year). Success will be measured against the validated total number of Participants who achieve QTS at the end of the Programme taken from the Buyer’s Teaching Record System (TRS).
- KPI3 - Participant Programme Completion, 860 Participants in a Cohort who start Year 1 of the Programme and Complete Year 2 of the Programme. Measure is taken at the end of Year 2 of each Cohort of the Programme on 31 August (of the respective contract year). Success will be measured against the total number of Participants who complete Year 2 of the Programme as provided by the Supplier’s Management Information. The Buyer will verify this information against its own records and databases.
- KPI4 – Participant Programme Completion in Specified Subject, 220 Participants in a Cohort who start Year 1 of the Programme in a Specified Subject who complete the Programme and achieve QTS. Measure is taken at the end of Year 2 of each Cohort of the programme on 31 August (of the respective Contract year). Success will be measured against the total number of Participants who complete Year 2 of the Programme, in a Specified Subject, as provided by the Supplier’s Management Information. The Buyer will verify this information against its own records and databases.
- KPI5 - Social Value, Direct recruitment of NEETs and persistently unemployed individuals Recruit a minimum of five learners from Generation UK bootcamps into the contract workforce over the lifetime of the initial contract term. In addition, engage with Generation UK whenever vacancies arise within the 12 further identified roles, with a view to promoting opportunities to suitable candidates. KPI Measurement: Performance against this KPI will be assessed through time-based milestones: - Completion of all mobilisation and engagement activities with Generation UK by September 2026. - Recruitment into four roles by September 2027. - Recruitment into one additional role by September 2028, bringing the total to five. - Any additional roles should any of the 17 targeted posts become available during the initial contract term. Reporting Requirements: Progress will be reported annually, with performance measured as at: 1 September 2026 1 September 2027 End of the Initial Contract term.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3final-stage tenders | 0 | 1 | — |
Who bid
- did not winCoventry University · West Midlands
- did not winSerco Limited · South East England
- wonTeach FirstVCSE · Greater London
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
3 commercial parties on the notice · 1 awarded- Coventry UniversityBidder / tenderer
- Serco LimitedBidder / tenderer
- Teach FirstAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (9)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: The Department for Education will conduct this procurement via the Jaggaer eSourcing Portal. All procurement documents, including the Invitation to Tender (ITT), supporting materials, and any updates or clarifications, will be made available through the portal. Interested suppliers must register on Jaggaer to access the documents and participate in the procurement process. All communication with suppliers, including the submission of clarification questions and the provision of responses, will also be managed through the Jaggaer system. Suppliers are advised to regularly check the portal for updates and ensure their contact details are kept up to date.
- Signed contract Published contract
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Planned procurement notice Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender