PictureFoundation Chairman, Peter McCormick OBE presents grant to Fiona Bradford

The training of a new teacher at a Bradford school is being funded by a grant from the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation.

Fiona Bradford has joined Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College in Bradford as part of the Teach First programme and has been part funded by the Foundation which raises money for young people and for projects benefiting them across the region.

Teach First is an innovative charity that is working to break the link between low family income and poor educational attainment, which is greater in the UK than in almost any other developed country.

Teach First recruits, trains and supports teachers working in schools in low income communities to raise the achievement, aspirations and access to opportunity of children from low socio-economic  backgrounds, whilst developing a network of leaders with a commitment to ending inequality in education from both inside and outside the classroom.

Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation Vice Chairman Richard Stroud said: “The fantastic work done by Teach First was highlighted last year by another Bradford teacher, Liam Gilbert, who won the Achievement in Education Award at the Yorkshire Young Achievers Awards.

“By supporting a teacher at Buttershaw College, we will in turn help pupils to achieve their true potential.”

The head of Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College, Richard Hughes said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be chosen as the school which will help develop the partnership between Teach First and the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation.  We really value our links with Teach First and look forward to developing similarly productive links with the Foundation.“

Fiona Bradford said: “We believe the partnership between the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation and Teach First represents a common drive, both locally and nationally, towards providing opportunities for young people; the Teach First values of access, aspiration and achievement can be applied to more than just education – these human rights should underpin individual and community visions. Combined with the Foundation’s recognition of those who overcome adversity to attain goals, we, at Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College, are delighted to be involved in the partnership, and it is exciting to think about the opportunities such a collaboration may bring for young people today and in the future, whether in Buttershaw or further afield.”