Ambition Institute

About Ambition Institute

A great teacher changes the future every day. They can be the critical factor in a child’s success, especially for those who have had a tough start in life. At Ambition Institute, we support teachers and school leaders at every stage of their careers, helping them to keep getting better.

We are a charity providing training and professional development based on the most rigorous research and evidence about what really works. Together, we’re shaping the future of education to give every child the best start in life.

What we do

We work with teachers – from those at the start of their career to those with many years’ experience – through to headteachers and CEOs leading multiple schools, as well as early years practitioners.

We train them so that they can make an even bigger difference to children, especially the most disadvantaged, and enjoy a long and fulfilling career.

Our programmes are designed to equip educators to tackle the challenges they face. Our approach is based on sound evidence of what really works, providing practical tools to make an even bigger impact, in the classroom and across the school.

We also work across the education sector and with policymakers to build understanding of the most effective approaches to professional development. We carry out research, collaborate with partners and share what works to amplify evidence and practice that can help everyone in the sector.

Over a third of state-funded schools have teachers and leaders who are developing with us, meaning we work with more educators than any other professional development provider.

In the last year, we worked with 46,000 teachers and leaders in England; helping them shape the futures of 3.9 million children. That’s 3.9 million children who are getting better teaching, and a better chance at success, whatever their background.

Why we do it

Great teaching changes lives. The evidence is clear: 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).