The partnership will ensure that schools in some of the most remote and disadvantaged communities in the country will have access to high-quality, evidence-informed professional development as part of the NIoT’s mission to support excellent teaching and leadership and improve outcomes for children and young people in underserved areas.

The Three Rivers TSH has a long-standing commitment to teacher development across all phases, and a strong reputation for delivery of the Early Career Teacher (ECT) Programme and National Professional Qualification (NPQ) programmes. With a reach across more than 270 schools in Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside, the hub is well-placed to respond to the unique challenges facing schools in the North East.

Melanie Renowden, CEO of the National Institute of Teaching said:

“I’m delighted to join forces with The Three Rivers Teaching School Hub to better serve the schools, teachers and children of their region. Our Associate Colleges are the lifeblood of our professional development programmes, connecting us with teachers across England and working with us to ensure our school-led and research-informed approach is of maximum benefit to their school communities.

"Quality teaching is an essential foundation for local growth and prosperity, and by partnering with The Three Rivers TSH I am confident we can deliver improved outcomes for current and future generations of children in the region.”

From autumn 2025 Three Rivers TSH will begin delivering the ECT and NPQ programmes under the NIoT umbrella, with plans to expand into Initial Teacher Training (ITT) delivery by 2026. This phased approach will enable schools in the region to benefit from the strength of the NIoT curriculum and research-informed materials, while maintaining the local relationships and contextual understanding that make the hub’s work so effective.

Alice Witherow, CEO of the Cheviot Learning Trust which runs the Teaching School Hub, said of the partnership:

“We are delighted to become an Associate College of the National Institute of Teaching. This partnership reflects our unwavering commitment to high-quality, evidence-informed teacher development. By aligning with NIoT, we aim to strengthen our professional learning pathways and ensure that educators across our region have access to the very best training and support. This collaboration is a significant step forward in our mission to nurture and retain exceptional teaching talent in the North East.”

The partnership will bring immediate benefits for schools across the region, with hundreds of teachers expected to benefit from ECT and NPQ opportunities in 2025–26.By working together, the NIoT and Three Rivers aim to provide sustained, high-impact development that supports staff retention, leadership capacity and the overall quality of teaching across the North East.