Education workforce development
Developing the teachers and leaders who shape learning, strengthen schools, and improve outcomes.
Great education systems depend on great teachers and leaders.
Yet many education systems face persistent teacher shortages, with growing challenges in attracting, developing, and retaining the skilled professionals they need. Leadership capacity is often stretched, while workforce policies do not always translate into improved classroom practice.
Meeting these challenges requires workforce systems that support educators to grow and succeed throughout their careers, while creating the conditions for high-quality teaching and leadership at scale.
Our vision
Every learner should benefit from high-quality teaching and leadership.
We want education systems to attract, develop, and retain talented educators through clear professional pathways, effective workforce policies, and meaningful opportunities for growth. Lasting improvement depends on a workforce that is skilled, supported, and motivated to learn, lead, and adapt throughout their careers.
We believe the strongest education systems invest not only in developing individual educators, but also in creating the professional cultures, leadership capacity, and workforce structures that enable improvement at scale.
How we add value
We help partners strengthen the people, leadership, and systems that drive educational improvement:
- strengthening teaching practice through professional learning and development
- developing leaders at every level, from schools to education systems
- improving teacher recruitment, retention, and motivation
- building professional learning systems that support continuous development
- embedding coaching, mentoring, and peer learning into everyday practice
- supporting workforce reform and policy implementation at national and regional level
- strengthening system leadership and institutional capability
- designing and delivering large-scale workforce development programmes.
Our experience spans education systems around the world, helping governments strengthen teaching, leadership, and workforce capacity at scale.
'Outstanding'
rating for our delivery of the Early Career Professional Development Programme by Ofsted in 2025.
98.5%
of National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) survey respondents reported that our NPQs would positively impact pupil outcomes, and 95.2% said it had strengthened their motivation to remain in teaching.
67,000+
teachers and almost 6,000 headteachers supported through the TEACH programme in Zimbabwe, working with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
In Ethiopia, we have co-designed competency standards and qualifications for school leaders and are supporting efforts to strengthen teaching and leadership capacity nationwide. We have also supported teacher development and capacity building in countries including Brunei, Kenya, Lebanon, and Jordan.
CASE STUDY
Developing confident teachers and improving retention.
As one of England’s lead providers of the Early Career Training Programme (ECTP), EDT supports teachers during the crucial first years of their careers. Combining evidence-informed training with high-quality mentoring, the programme helps teachers strengthen their classroom practice, build confidence and develop the habits needed for long-term success.
Since becoming a lead provider in 2019, EDT has supported more than 15,000 participants. In 2025, EDT’s delivery was rated Outstanding by Ofsted, with inspectors describing mentors as the programme’s “beating heart” and recognising the impact of the programme on teacher development and pupil outcomes. Participant feedback consistently highlights improved confidence, stronger teaching practice and greater professional resilience.
Our work in education workforce development
Early Career Training Programme
CfBT Education Services
The impact of National Professional Qualifications in creating a ‘golden thread’ of teacher professional development
How Future Teaching Scholars achieved a 90% teacher retention rate after three years across England
How Behaviour Hubs strengthened behaviour culture at scale through school-to-school support
Latest insights and research
We invest in research and learning to better understand what helps educators grow, lead and remain in the profession. Drawing on insights from teacher development programmes, leadership initiatives and workforce reform efforts around the world, we explore what it takes to build a skilled, motivated and well-supported education workforce. We use these insights to help governments and partners turn evidence into practical action and lasting improvement.
EDT responds to the UK government’s schools white paper
Licensing teachers: a global policy lever for educational quality and professionalism
Collaborative behaviour improvement in schools: implications for global policymakers
Predicting later classroom practice in those new to teaching
Joint practice development through a peer-led school improvement partnership: research-driven recommendations for policymakers and school leaders
Successful School Leadership 2020 publication
Change agents: case studies on middle-tier instructional leadership
How to assess potential to teach: Data Insights report provides new evidence
Teacher management in refugee settings: Ethiopia
EDT builds on success of TEACH programme through new education initiatives in Zimbabwe
Future Teaching Scholars demonstrates subject specialist teacher retention, amidst national STEM skills shortages
Ofsted commends edt for ‘Outstanding’ delivery of Early Career Framework
Dr Nicky Platt
Director of Global Programmes and Business Development
Let's work together
If you're looking to develop educators, strengthen leadership or build a more effective education workforce, we'd welcome a conversation about your priorities.
Speak to our specialist
Nicky drives the effective delivery of our programmes across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Brunei, and the UK, as well as overseeing business development. Nicky has over 25 years in education, leading materials development and teacher-training programmes globally.