Aims/Priorities: The purpose of the Teacher Development Fund is to support teachers to develop arts-based approaches which create equitable classrooms where all children learn and thrive. It aims to do this through supporting teachers and school leaders to develop the necessary skills, knowledge, confidence and experience.
The Fund is focused on:
- Pupils who experience systemic inequity and enabling them to access and make progress in their learning.
- Supporting arts organisations and schools working in equal partnerships to exchange and enrich their expertise.
- Recognising teachers are critical to pupils' outcomes.
- Creating high-quality inspiring professional learning for teachers.
- Enabling teachers and artist practitioners to learn and work together in the classroom.
- Building a body of evidence and practice and understanding how the work improves equity for pupils.
- Generating sustainable changes in teaching and learning in schools for the long-term.
Who can apply? To be eligible, lead applicants must be one of the following:
- Primary schools operating in the state sector. They can be mainstream, SEND or Alternative Provision settings, working with primary-age children.
- Arts organisations can be charities, community organisations, social enterprises and not-for-profit companies active in the arts and culture sector
The following criteria apply:
- All applications must have solid partnerships in place
- Each partnership must include one or more arts/cultural organisations
- A minimum of six and a maximum of ten schools should be involved in each project, regardless of whether the lead applicant is either an arts/cultural organisation or a school
- Each participating school should commit at least two teachers and one senior leader to the project, though flexibility can be offered to small, rural schools
- Projects may include teachers of Nursery and Reception classes in primary schools
- All schools must be operating in the state sector.
The following may apply:
- PRU/alternative provision settings as long as they are a maintained setting, free school or academy serving pupils aged 11 and under.
- Multi Academy Trusts and Teaching School Hubs.
- SEND schools as long as they are a maintained setting, free school or academy serving pupils aged 11 and under.
Grant Amount: Grants of up to £165,000 are available per application.
Projects should last for two academic years.
Application Process: There is one application/funding round each year. Applications are accepted annually from late August to November.
The fund guidelines and FAQs can be found on the Paul Hamlyn Foundation website.
There is a two-stage application process:
- The first step is to submit a brief, online First Stage Application form outlining the proposed project by 12 November 2025 (12 noon). All applicants will hear the outcome of their application within three weeks of the deadline.
- Successful applicants will be invited to submit a full online application by the deadline of 14 January 2026 (12 noon) with a final decision by the end of March 2026.
Contact the Paul Hamlyn Foundation for further information.
Deadline: Wednesday 12 November 2025 (12 noon)
Contact Information: information@phf.org.uk
Website: Funding | Paul Hamlyn Foundation