A consortium of some of the biggest multi-academy trusts has been selected as the preferred bidder to run the much-anticipated £121 million Institute of Teaching, according to sources close to the process.
The School Led Development Trust (SLDT), comprising the Harris Federation, Outwood Grange Academies Trust, Star Academies and Oasis Community Learning, has won the race to run the new teacher training body after pitching against a consortium led by the Ambition Institute, Tes understands.
However, the unsuccessful group, which also includes trusts such as Ark, is understood to be challenging the process ahead of official confirmation of the successful bid.
The SLDT was founded to bid for the Institute of Teaching (IoT) contract last May, after the Department for Education announced the tender the previous January.
Tes previously revealed that the government had set aside £121 million to fund the IoT over six years. It is set to train 1,000 new teachers a year.
Institute of Teaching ‘will be England’s flagship teacher training provider’
The DfE said the IoT would be “England’s flagship teacher training and development provider”, designed to show “exemplary delivery of the government’s ambitious reforms”.
It also said that the IoT would offer training to around 2,000 early career teachers and 2,000 mentors a year, together with 1,000 participants in NPQ (national professional qualification) leadership training.
However, the IoT had previously been labelled as controversial. James Noble-Rogers, head of the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers, told Tes that “what added value it will bring is unclear”.
A spokesperson for the SLDT said: “We have submitted a bid for the contract to lead the national Institute of Teaching. The DfE is yet to announce the outcome of the tender process.”
The DfE has been approached for comment. Ambition Institute declined to comment.
