Celebrating the Class of 2026 at GLF Teacher Training

GLF Teacher Training with Inspiring Future Teachers proudly celebrated the success of 43 trainee teachers at its annual graduation ceremony on 17 July at The Horton in Epsom – a stunning arts and culture venue housed within a beautifully converted chapel. 

The event marked th culmination of a year of learning, growth and achievement for trainees undertaking Initial Teacher Training (ITT), with graduates, mentors, tutors and colleagues gathering to celebrate this significant milestone.

Class of 2026 at GLF Teacher Training

A Year of Success 

This year's trainees who began the programme in September achieved an exceptional 98% completion and pass rate, successfully gaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The cohort comprised of 26% Primary trainees and 74% Secondary trainees, training across GLF Teacher Training's hubs at The Beacon School in Surrey and significantly the first cohort to train at our new hub at Aureus School in Oxfordshire.  

The programme continues to deliver strong outcomes for aspiring teachers, with 87% of trainees securing Early Career Teacher (ECT) positions for September 2026 and a further 6% moving into supply teaching roles. 

These results reflect the strength of the school-centred training model, which combines hands-on classroom experience with expert guidance from mentors, school leaders and the GLF Teacher Training team. 

From Trainee to Teacher 

Graduates and guests arrived at The Horton before gathering for a formal ceremony celebrating the hard work, resilience and dedication shown throughout the year. 

The event opened with a welcome from the GLF Teacher Training team, followed by an inspiring speech from Angela Rodda, Director of GLF Teaching School Hub, who congratulated trainees on reaching this important milestone. She said: 

"Teaching offers the opportunity to make a positive difference every day. By supporting and inspiring children and young people over time, teachers can have a lasting impact, and today's graduates should be proud of the positive influence they will have for years to come." 

Trainees also heard from members of the training team, who shared reflections on the year and celebrated the determination, growth and professionalism demonstrated by the cohort.  

Throughout the morning, graduates were individually invited to the stage to receive their certificates, celebrated by family members, colleagues and mentors. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of special awards recognising outstanding achievement before graduates gathered for photographs and refreshments in The Horton's beautiful grounds. 

Looking Ahead 

As another academic year ends, we congratulate all our graduates on their outstanding achievement. We look forward to seeing many of them continue their journey within GLF Schools and wish every graduate success as they embark on the next stage of their teaching career. 

Congratulations, Class of 2025/26!