Increasing Diversity in ITT Project

Funded by: Mission 44

The Increasing Diversity in ITT project is a four-year long project funded by Mission 44 in partnership with Being Luminary, Chartered College of Teaching and Chiltern Learning Trust.

The project is focused on dismantling the systemic barriers that trainee teachers from Global Majority Heritage (GMH) backgrounds face throughout the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) journey, from application to leadership. Research from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) in 2024 and 2025 shows that while candidates from global majority heritage backgrounds are overrepresented at the application stage, they are disproportionately less likely to be accepted into ITT programmes, to qualify, or to progress in their teaching careers.

Our project provides support, training, and resources to strengthen the practice of School-Centred ITT providers (SCITTs) and placement-schools. By enabling more Global Majority trainees to successfully begin and complete their ITT courses, we aim to increase diversity in the teaching workforce and contribute to a fairer education system for all.

The core 3 strands of this project are:

Coaching for SCITTs
Online training programme
Funded Chartered Teacher cohorts

Now accepting applicants!

Strand 3: Chartered Teacher (Leadership) Status – Increasing Diversity in Teacher Education Cohort

We’re piloting a transformative professional learning and accreditation pathway designed to support senior school leaders from global majority backgrounds towards achieving Chartered Teacher (Leadership) Status.

We’re offering 30 fully funded places, made possible by Mission 44, delivered in partnership with the Chartered College of Teaching, Being Luminary, and Chiltern Learning Trust.

Who is this for?

This cohort is for global majority senior leaders, headteachers, and those working in leadership roles across multiple schools who want to deepen their practice, engage with education research, and gain high-status professional recognition.

What does the cohort include?

Participants will complete four certified CPD units, each tailored to their own context:

Certificate in Evidence-Informed Practice
Certificate in Strategic CPD Leadership
Education Research and Inquiry Certificate (Leadership)
Professional Knowledge Award (Leadership)

You’ll also develop a personalised professional learning plan to reflect on progress and refine priorities throughout your journey.

The cohort launches with an online event , Thursday 15th January 2026, 11:00-12:00 GMT followed by a wraparound schedule of events offering peer review, critical reflection, and collaborative professional growth. By the end of the pathway, you’ll have strengthened your leadership practice and achieved Chartered Teacher (Leadership) Status, a recognised mark of evidence-informed leadership excellence.

How to apply

To apply for this cohort, you’ll complete an online application form where you’ll tell us about you, you’ll reflect on your motivation for applying and will submit a series of Educational Perspective Statements that give us an insight into your values, beliefs and perspectives on key themes in school leadership. Read the full application guidance below.

Application deadline: 1st December 2025
Successful candidates notified by: 15th December 2025
Cohort starts: 15th January 2026

Strand 1: Coaching for SCITTs

Working with School-Centred Initial Teacher Training providers (SCITTs) and schools across the country, we will look to increase the acceptance rates of teachers from global majority backgrounds into ITT, and their successful completion of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) by addressing systemic barriers such as unconscious bias, inequitable application and assessment processes. We aim to improve the experience of global majority applicants through their training, to improve longer-term retention rates; and increase the numbers of ethnic minority staff working in ITT.

Introducing our DEI SCITT coaches

We are pleased to share that the Chartered College of Teaching, Chiltern Learning Trust and Being Luminary, have selected the Chartered College of Teaching Fellows who will coach in our DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) support programme, funded by Mission 44’s Diversity in Education Fund.

These coaches will work alongside SCITTs from ITT applicants through to the awarding of QTS to increase their skill and confidence over the next 4 years.

We’d like to introduce these coaches, who are all highly accomplished teachers. Each coach brings unique expertise and experience to this initiative, and we’re excited to be working with them:

Humayun Ahmed

Humayun has over 20 years of experience in education, with more than 15 years in leadership roles where he has effectively mentored and coached both teachers and leaders. His international experience includes a notable tenure as Deputy Head of Secondary at a British International School in Cairo, Egypt, where he served for five years. Currently, he holds the position of Headteacher at a Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) school in the West Midlands. In addition to his educational career, Humayun has a background as a Youth Worker, has operated his own business, and has been involved in various community projects. He is fervently passionate about inclusive education, dedicated to nurturing the next generation, and committed to challenging prejudice and cultural barriers that affect us all.

Remi Atoyebi

Remi Atoyebi brings over 25 years of experience in the education sector as a national education adviser, leadership consultant, transformational coach, and mentor. A seasoned School Improvement and Leadership Consultant, she has contributed to The Headteacher’s Handbook and shared her expertise through national leadership forums. As a former member of the Department for Education’s Primary Headteachers’ Reference Group, she advised ministers on key education policies. Deeply committed to equity and representation, Remi coaches and mentors leaders and aspiring leaders in and outside the education space—particularly those from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds—through national programmes including the NPQH, BME Headteacher Internship, and Black Leadership Initiative. She also champions corporate partnerships that strengthen business engagement in schools through governance, mentorship, and coaching. She is a Fellow of both the Chartered College of Teaching and the Institute of Leadership and Management, a CIPD Associate, and an ICF-accredited Transformational Coach.

Pavandeep Aujla

As Quality of Education Leader across 11 secondary and 5 primary schools, Pavandeep develops senior and middle leaders to drive improvements in both Teaching & Learning and Curriculum & Assessments. She supports them in implementing research-driven approaches to curriculum, assessment, and pedagogy, ensuring high-quality education for all students. Additionally, Pavandeep leads science across 11 secondary schools, providing a clear vision and direction for excellence. By fostering collaboration, challenge, and professional growth, Pavandeep equips leaders at all levels to drive sustained improvement and positively impact student outcomes across the trust. Pavandeep is also a trustee for a five-school MAT in Leicester, focusing on education. Previously, she was an Assistant Principal in a high-attaining school in London rated Outstanding twice, where she played a key role in leadership and curriculum development.

Ann Palmer

Ann Palmer has over 35 years of experience working in education, with schools and universities. She has partnered with schools across the UK and internationally and is the founder of the RACE Charter Mark which is an award recognising effective race equality strategies. She has supported other sectors outside of education with setting up similar accreditations. Ann has been a facilitator on a number of professional programmes, is a public speaker and is highly acclaimed in the field of DEI and leadership. She is a qualified Executive Coach and Team Coach, coaching CEOs and other senior personnel and teams. She is described as “a leader who leads with flair and vision” and is described as “inspirational”. As an entrepreneur, Ann currently holds roles across a number of businesses, including Race Excellence which is a consulting business offering high quality and personalised diversity training and accreditation for corporations and businesses. She is a member of the Chartered College of Teaching’s Ethics Committee, a School Governor, a Charity Trustee and Business Advisor. Ann is a published author, a podcaster and was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in 2010 and given royal recognition in 2022.

Harroop Sandhu

Harroop is a Leadership Coach and EDI Consultant with over 20 years of experience in education. She is passionate about helping leaders enhance their EDI efforts without shame or blame, empowering them to take meaningful action and create the lasting legacies they envision. She works with the leaders to build inclusive practices to ensure that systemic inequities are being addressed strategically with measurable results, utilising her knowledge and skills as an EMCC coach and EDI fellow with the Institute of Educational and Social Equity. As a working parent of three, she understands how our relationships with various identities evolve over time, shaping the way we lead and engage with others. Encouraging leaders to constantly examine the question of how do we lead with empathy, when we don’t all share the same lived experiences.