News1st September 2025

Over 200 new trainees embark on their teaching journey with ATT summer school

More than 200 new trainee teachers began their journey with Ark Teacher Training (ATT) at this year’s summer school – the largest ever cohort to take part.

Ark Teacher TrainingArk King Solomon Academy

ATT’s intensive two-week programme – a mix of guided and independent study – is designed to prepare new teachers for the demands of training and classroom practice before the academic year begins.
 
This blended approach culminated in two in-person days where the full cohort came together at Ark King Solomon Academy in Westminster to mark the start of their teaching journeys.
 
It was a great chance for trainees to meet their peers face-to-face, engage in expert-led sessions, team up with subject colleagues, and receive personalised guidance from mentors.
 
This year’s intake includes a record-breaking 14 Ark student alumni trainees – a testament to the programme’s impact and the strength of Ark’s teacher pipeline. In total, 212 new teachers are joining the Ofsted ‘outstanding’-rated programme, which continues to grow in scale and reach.
 
From September, trainees will be placed in schools across the country – from Ark schools in Birmingham, Hastings, London and Portsmouth to partner schools in Middlesbrough, Sheffield, Hull, the Isle of Wight, Essex, Southampton, the New Forest and beyond.
 
In school, the trainees will benefit from real-time coaching and team teaching with mentors, gaining crucial classroom experience from day one. Over the course of the year, they will gradually take on full teaching responsibilities, participate in whole-school activities, and grow as valued members of their school communities.
 
Ark Head of ATT Pete Rafael said: “Summer school was phenomenal. The energy and sense of purpose at our summer school was palpable.
 
“It was truly inspiring to witness more than 200 new trainee teachers working, learning, and growing together over the course of two weeks – each beginning their journey towards transforming children’s lives in classrooms across the country.
 
“We cannot wait to watch our trainees develop across the year with the support of such a dedicated tutor team and their colleagues in schools.”