Brett Wigdortz OBE, founder of Teach First, on building a movement that changed education in the UK
Few figures have shaped the education sector in the UK in the past two decades quite like Brett Wigdortz OBE. Founder and former CEO of Teach First, Brett set out in 2002 to break the link between poverty and poor educational outcomes. What began as an experiment – placing top grads into low-income schools – has now become one of the most influential education initiatives of its generation, inspiring Teach For All (a network now spanning over 60 countries) and the Fair Education Alliance.
Speaking to Oppidan co-founder Walter Kerr, Brett reflects on the early struggles of convincing unions, schools and even grads that Teach First could work, and the euphoric moment when it did. He opens up about what the organisation got right, the attainment gap that keeps him up at night and why teacher recruitments remains a constant challenge today. Now, as co-founder of tiney, Brett is tackling a lack of quality childcare for early years, saying that education policy should focus on three-year-olds as much as teenagers.
🎙️ Episode highlights
After Walter pulls up an 'Education Secretary' top trump card, Brett recalls the landscape of the sector back in 2002: schools in crisis, poor GCSE grades and a desperate need for reform.
He discusses early scepticism to Teach First from schools, unions and the new graduates themselves.
He addresses to notion that Teach First is seen as a means to a corporate job, saying churn isn't failure but rather part of building a longer term movement.
Brett reflects on Teach First's legacy in narrowing the attainment gap but how progress has stalled post-COVID.
He discusses his new venture Tiney, and why childminding could solve both the shortage of early years educators and the needs of parents.
His controversial opinion concerns university degrees, saying too many "aren't worth the paper they're printed on".