Frequently asked questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about our Leadership Development Programme.

• Before

  • What is Teach First?

    Teach First’s mission is to address educational disadvantage which we accomplish by transforming outstanding graduates into inspiring leaders in the classroom, prepared to excel in any career. Combining intensive teacher training and experience in challenging East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire, London and the North West schools with an innovative leadership programme, Teach First is a unique opportunity for you to be different, and to make a difference in the short and longer term.

    High-profile recruiters from all sectors value the skills and strategies employed in teaching. That's why over 80 companies, government agencies and public bodies are backing Teach First to develop the leaders of tomorrow.

    Teach First recruits high-calibre graduates from all disciplines to train and qualify as inspirational teachers and classroom leaders. You will contribute to the improvement of the achievement, access and aspirations of your pupils, and participate in courses in leading learning, leading people and leading organisations. You will benefit from the support of an experienced network including Teach First staff, tutors and mentors. Read more.

    Beyond your initial two years, you will become part of the growing Teach First Ambassador Movement, a unique community of individuals all of whom have a shared experience of teaching in challenging schools and a commitment to bringing about macro systemic change in education whilst continuing their development as leaders.

     

  • How do I apply?

    If you are interested in becoming an inspirational leader and contributing to the Teach First mission to address educational disadvantage then please visit www.teachfirst.org.uk.

    Please note we can only accept online applications – please go to the Graduates section of the homepage to apply and find out more about the application process. Early applications are recommended.

     

  • Can I apply for deferred placement with Teach First?

    Teach First is able to defer a limited number of offers from this recruitment year to the 2011 recruitment year. Please apply online following the standard process and we will contact you during the recruitment process to talk about your options and if we currently have a deferral available in the subject/s you are eligible to teach with Teach First.

     

  • Are you open for applications/when is the deadline?

    Are you open for applications question: Applications are now open for the 2011 Teach First Leadership Development Programme. If you've researched the programme and identified appropriate vacancies then it's time to register, complete our online screening and begin your application.

     

  • What are the minimum academic requirements? If I don’t meet them, can I still apply?

    In order to be eligible to apply for Teach First, we look for the following:

    1. 2.1 degree or above
    2. 300 UCAS points (or equivalent, excluding General Studies)
    3. Degree and/or A level grade A or B (or equivalent) in a subject that is aligned to a National Curriculum subject
    4. Grade C in GCSE Maths and English or equivalent
    5. Flexibility to work anywhere within East Midlands, London, North West, West Midlands and Yorkshire

    All applicants are looked at holistically so if you feel you have other attributes that contribute to your application but do not fall within the above criteria then we would urge you to apply and outline these attributes on the application form.

     

  • Can I apply with a 2:2?

    Academic performance is one of the areas we assess at application stage. Our assessment days are extremely competitive and therefore only candidates that are exceptional in many areas will be considered.

    If you feel you have other attributes to contribute to your application then we would urge you to apply. All applications are looked at individually and a holistic approach is taken. Please note any extenuating circumstances on the application form.

     

  • Can I apply with a disability?

    We are committed to ensuring that all our job applicants are treated fairly and with respect, irrespective of their gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, race, religion/belief or disability. You will be asked to describe your disability as part of your application but this information remains confidential and is only used in monitoring our process. Therefore, if you require any reasonable adjustments to be made to our selection process or would like to talk to a member of our recruitment team please contact us on 0121 6549248.

    If you are invited to an assessment centre we would ask that you also contact us at that point to inform us at that stage of any special requirements you will need at your assessment centre and we will endeavour to accommodate them.

    If you are made an offer for Teach First we will need to consider any particular needs, according to your disability, that will affect your ability to work in a normal school environment. You will be asked to inform your regional team of your needs when you are allocated to a Teach First region.

     

  • Do you accept applications from graduates who require a work permit?

    Teach First is not the employer of our participants and so we are unable to process work permit applications. We are currently reviewing this situation with our schools.

    If you would like to apply you can go through our process and your offer would be conditional on securing the permit required as we can not make any guarantees at this time and only on a case by case basis.

     

  • I graduated a few years ago; do you have any age restrictions?

    We are committed to ensuring that all our job applicants are treated fairly and with respect, irrespective of their gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, race, religion/belief or disability.

    Teach First has no restrictions on the age of applicants. It is designed for people who wish to teach for a minimum of two years but are open-minded about their future career options and would like to gain valuable and useful leadership skills they can then transfer elsewhere after Teach First.

     

  • Can I apply to Teach First with a non National Curriculum degree subject?

    Teach First currently places its Leadership Development programme participants in to 13 national curriculum subjects at secondary level.

    To teach in a secondary school your degree must be related to one of our national curriculum subjects. However, if you have a grade A or B in Design Technology, English, ICT, Maths, Science or a Citizenship related A’ level you will be eligible to teach that subject based on the subject preferences of our schools. Please note Science requires two relevant A’ levels at grade A or B.

    Subject Knowledge will be assessed at the Subject Knowledge Audit stage of our process. This is to ensure that you have the required knowledge to teach this subject and to identify areas of subject knowledge that you will need to develop further before the Summer Institute and begin teaching in September. Successful completion of the Subject Knowledge Audit is a conditional part of your offer to join Teach First, and without it your offer will be withdrawn.

    Should you join the programme Teach First will allocate you to a subject, in which you will teach at least 50% of your timetable in, in the following way:

    1. If you have a degree or A-level (at A/B grade) in a STEM subject (these are Science, IT, Design Technology and Maths) you will be allocated to one of these subjects. Please note you must have two science A-levels to be considered for this subject.
    2. If this does not apply to you but you have a degree in a shortage subject (these are English, Music, Modern Foreign Languages and Religious Education) you will be allocated to one of the subjects. Please note we are also able to accept an A-level (at A/B grade) in English Literature or Language to teach English
    3. If neither above apply to you then we will match you with your degree subject as best as possible with our anticipated demand for vacancies across the regions.

    If there are particular subjects you would not be comfortable teaching we will take this in to consideration, you will be asked to list these at our assessment centre. A large number of our participants are required to teach another subject as well, this will depend on the needs of your school.

    Please also note we recruit throughout the year and subjects can fill before our application deadlines. If you are only eligible to teach a subject that we are no longer recruiting for, a recruiter will have been in touch to talk about your options before the assessment centre. If you are successful today we will continue these discussions to find a suitable outcome for yourself and Teach First.

    If you are unsure please contact faq@teachfirst.org.uk or call 0207 517 2738.

     

  • Can I apply if I have applied for a PGCE course?

    If you have accepted a place on the PGCE course this year then you are not able to apply for the Teach First programme.

    Please refer to the TDA website for more information on the different routes into teaching at www.tda.gov.uk.

     

  • Can I apply if I already have QTS?

    Teach First recruits only graduates who do not possess Qualified to Teach Status or a PGCE. In the first year, participants undertake a 70% teaching commitment in school, during which they are supported by Teach First, our partner universities and school mentors in training to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) at the end of the year, as part of a postgraduate / professional graduate certificate in education (PGCE award). If you have already gained QTS you will not be eligible to apply.

     

  • Do you accept CVs?

    No – to ensure all applicants are treated equally and fairly, we only accept online applications. If you are unable to complete your form online because of a disability, please contact a member of our recruitment team on 0121 6549248.

     

  • I wasn’t invited to an assessment centre; can I receive feedback on my application?

    We are sorry to advise you that due to the large number of applications received by Teach First, we are unable to give you feedback as to why you were unsuccessful.

     

  • I am having technical difficulties with my application, what should I do?

    We are sorry to hear that you are experiencing technical problems with our application form. If your problem is related to the page not loading, you might find it helpful to try the following measures:

    1. Check that cookies and JavaScript are enabled on your browser
    2. Shut down all browser windows and then open a fresh one

    If dialling up on a modem, check that your internet connection is working at full capacity - sometimes if many people are using one internet provider, website pages can be slow to load and the connection will "time out" if the information is not transferred fast enough. Please be patient and try again.

    If your application is not being saved correctly please make sure you are using the next and previous buttons to navigate through the application, rather than the navigation bar at the top of the page. Also, consider composing answers to longer questions in a word document so you can paste them into the correct field in the application form.

    If your problem is of a different technical nature then please email tf-helpdesk@teachfirst.org.uk for further assistance.

     

  • I have forgotten my user name and/or password?

    If you are experiencing problems with your application or have forgotten your password or username please email
    tf-helpdesk@teachfirst.org.uk.

     

  • I’ve looked everywhere on your website, but I can’t find the answer to an important question. Can I contact you directly?

    If you have looked at the website and FAQ section carefully and still can’t find the answer to your question, you can contact us at faq@teachfirst.org.uk or on 0207 5172738.

     

• During

  • What is the Summer Institute?

    The Summer Institute is the residential component of our initial teacher training, which will be continued throughout your first year in the classroom. The Summer Institute starts on Sunday 27th June and ends on Friday 6th August 2010.

    The primary purpose of the Summer Institute is to professionally prepare you as well as possible to begin teaching in September. There are also a variety of pastoral and social events. The following is a general timetable for the summer, subject to change:

    Regional Summer Institute:

    The first three weeks of the Summer Institute are based in your region.

    1. Week 1: Training in Subject Studies, Professional Studies, and Lectures.
    2. Week 2: Teaching Experience Week - you will spend a week in a different school in your region to provide you with experience in teaching and observing.
    3. Week 3: Placement School Week - you will spend a week in the school that you will work in from September onwards and engage in the school induction programme.

    National Summer Institute:

    The final three weeks of the Summer Institute bring together the five regions at the University of Warwick. During these three weeks you are joined by Associate Tutors, Ambassadors of Teach First who join staff to contribute to your training.

    1. Week 4: Training in Subject Studies, Professional Studies, and Workshops.
    2. Week 5: Training in Subject Studies, Professional Studies, and Workshops. During this week participants from the first year cohort (09) will return for two days to gain their QTS. They will present how they’ve impacted on student achievement and also contribute to Subject and Professional Studies.
    3. Week 6: Training in Subject Studies, Professional Studies, and Workshops.

     

  • Will I be paid during the Summer Institute?

    Teach First will provide all accommodation and meals during the six week Summer Institute training. We do not anticipate that you would normally incur any significant expenses during this period. Participants will not be paid during this period.

    Small bursaries will be available based on a needs analysis, which you can complete prior to the Summer Institute. Further details are available on request.

     

  • What does the Teach First Leadership Development Programme involve?

    Throughout the two years you will take part in our unique Leadership Development Programme. Leadership Development Programme, delivered at Masters level, is designed to develop your leadership abilities. It combines theory and practice of effective leadership and is designed to maximise your impact towards addressing educational disadvantage, while preparing you to be an outstanding leader in any sector.

    The Leadership Development Programme consists of the following modules and units.

    Module	Credit	Delivery of Module
    Regional Training Provider (RTP) delivered Module: Journal Assignment and Written Assignments	60	RTP delivered and assessed
    Leading Learning, Leading People, Leading Organisations	30	Teach First delivered and university assessed
    Focusing on Urban Learning, Change Management and practice based projects divided into 2 or 3 modules.	90	University delivered and assessed
    Masters	180	Total

    During your first year with Teach First you’ll engage in the Regional Training Provider (RTP) module and work towards QTS as part of your PGCE. In addition to your teaching schedule, you’ll be expected to keep a journal and submit written assignments.

    You’ll receive ongoing support from your tutors and Teach First Leadership Development Officer (LDO). Your LDO will also start guiding you through the Teach First delivered module, which will be delivered through a series of workshops and speaker events.

    In your second year you’ll continue to work on the Teach First delivered module, attending workshops and other events, working with your LDO to help you achieve maximum impact in the classroom. The Teach First delivered module is assessed through the completion of a second-year portfolio with written reflective pieces.

    During the second year you also have the opportunity to commence the university delivered module, which are required should you wish to gain a full Masters. Should you wish to delay taking this module, th credits gained through the RTP module and the Teach First delivered module remain valid for up to eight years.

    Please contact the Leadership Development team on 0207 517 4827 if you have any further queries regarding your teaching qualification or your training/leadership development,

     

  • During Teach First, what will my student status be?

    During the Summer Institute you will be a full-time student of the initial teacher training provider. Once you start at your school, you will switch to become a part-time student and a full-time employee of your school.

     

  • What salary will I be paid?

    Teach First Participants are paid, and employed by, their school, throughout the two years. Your salary is based on the region in which you are placed, and in the case of London, salaries are further broken down by Inner London, Outer London and Fringe Areas.

    Based on the salaries for 2009*, the minimum salary in your first year will be:

    London - Fringe Area - £18,274
    London - Outer - £20,165
    London - Inner - £21,242
    East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire & North West - £17,260

    In the second year, participants are paid varying amounts dependent on the salary that our participating schools pay their Newly Qualified Teacher’s and the level of extra responsibility a teacher takes on. The minimum this will be is as follows, based on proposed salaries for 2010*:

    London - Fringe Area - £22,626
    London - Outer - £25,117
    London - Inner - £27,000
    East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire & North West- £21,588   *Source: National Union of Teachers

    The cost of living in London is significantly more than that of other areas in the country, salaries therefore reflect this cost. The rent on a flat in London, based on 3 sharing, can range from approximately £360-£700 per month. Rent in other areas of the country is significantly less (in the area of £300 - £500 for a one bedroom flat per month). In each case, our participants live comfortably whether on their own, with friends or family, or with other Teach First Participants.

     

  • What are the schools like?

    Teach First places participants in East Midlands, London, North West, West Midlands and Yorkshire secondary schools that have at least 30% of pupils eligible for Free School Meals and/or have below 25% 5 A* - C GCSEs. We also place in National Challenge and City Challenge schools.

    We are not able to place in schools which are in Special Measures. We are currently assessing whether we will be placing primary teachers for the 2011 cohort.

    Teach First schools vary in their ethnic make-ups, the age of their buildings and the communities they are in, but will often be in challenging areas. In all schools the Head Teachers have asked to employ Teach First teachers and have agreed to provide the level of support required by Teach First. Read more about the school and pupils.

     

  • Is Teach First going to any other regions?

    Teach First is now running in five regions in the country: East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire, London and the North West. The expansion owes itself to successes that Teach First has achieved over the years and we are excited that we are able to support schools in challenging circumstances across the country. We continue to explore other areas that might be suitable for Teach First in the future.

     

  • How does Teach First differ from alternative PGCE courses?

    A traditional PGCE course is a one-year postgraduate training course, based at a university and including classroom observation and some teaching practice within the course. A PGCE student does get to do some teaching practice towards the latter parts of the training, but will not take up a full time teaching post until after the year of training is complete. Students will gain a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (which includes QTS) on completion of their PGCE course.

    Teach First runs a two year Leadership Development programme, designed to recruit graduates who would not otherwise do a PGCE or take another route into teaching, but agree educational disadvantage is wrong and want to do something about it. The two years start with a university-based 6 week Summer Institute which includes teaching practice. Then in September, Teach First Participants take up posts in schools in the East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire, London and the North West on a 80% teachers timetable, and continue to train towards gaining a Postgraduate Certificate (with QTS) while working. Teach First Participants are paid and work as teachers for the whole two years in their school. The minimum expectation is to complete the two years teaching, gain QTS (as part of a PGCE) at the end of their first year and complete the Leadership Development Programme. Therefore Teach First is an Employment-Based route as compared to the traditional PGCE route.

    Please be aware that Teach First cannot accept an application from anyone who has accepted a position on a PGCE course.

     

  • Am I likely to be teaching any additional subjects other than my QTS subject in my school?

    In many instances Teach First teachers are expected to teach another subject as well as the one they are working to gain QTS in. In fact, some of our current participants teach up to 50% of their timetable in another subject, dependant on the needs of the particular school in which they are placed.

    In your first year on Teach First you are not likely to be able to influence your school’s choice of subjects for you, although you will always be guaranteed at least 50% time in your QTS subject. Once you are qualified and have established good relationships in your school, it maybe easier in your second year to request the opportunity of teaching an additional subject you are interested in.

    Throughout the Summer Institute there will be opportunities for attending sessions / workshops pertinent to your additional subject, meeting and discussing teaching issues with Ambassadors and Associate Tutors and developing networking and ‘buddying’ relationships with fellow colleagues whose principle subject is your additional subject. There are also Subject based online forums on the ParticipantNet (a website for Teach First Participants) where you can access support and ideas from participants and Ambassadors whose principle subject is your additional subject.

    Within our placement schools we work closely with Head Teachers and Mentors to ensure you also receive sufficient help and support for any additional subject teaching.

     

  • Is it compulsory to complete the two years of Teach First?

    We require all Teach First Participants to commit to the two year Leadership Development programme. The two years are vital to complete the training to become a qualified teacher and the programme’s leadership development events. Failure to complete the two years will result in you not graduating as a Teach First Ambassador and as such will not have access to the Teach First Ambassador programme and its benefits.

    Most importantly, we believe that we best further our mission by ensuring that all of our teachers complete the minimum two year commitment they have given to their schools and pupils.

     

• After

  • What is a Teach First Ambassador?

    On completion of the two year programme, you will graduate to become a Teach First Ambassador (subject to fulfilling our requirements). With this, you will become part of a growing body of ambassadors which, as well as building personal and professional networks, brings with it a host of opportunities to address educational disadvantage on a long-term, systemic basis – something that is core to the mission of Teach First.

    There are currently 843 Teach First Ambassadors. In five years’ time, this number will have grown to over 3,500 - all of whom will have a shared experience of teaching in a challenging school and a desire to make a difference. Read more about what happens after the programme.

     

  • What opportunities will I get as an Ambassador?

    Through the Ambassador Offer, you will access a unique network of likeminded individuals, career development support and a range of specially tailored social change initiatives, including:

    1. Teach On - sign-posting, support & leadership development for Ambassadors continuing in challenging schools
    2. Social Entrepreneurship - training, networking & support for Ambassadors interested in launching social ventures
    3. Governance for Change - develop leadership skills whilst maximising your long-term impact by serving on a school governing body
    4. Policy First - a forum for you to share your insights on current education issues and help shape education policy for the future
    5. HEAPS - opportunities to support pupils from Teach First schools to progress to competitive universities
    6. Supporting Teach First - share your experience with participants, help recruit a cohort, offer financial support or engage new sponsors as a Pathfinder.

     

  • Am I guaranteed a job with one of the supporting companies at the end of the Teach First Leadership Development programme?

    Many of our sponsors recognise that Teach First Ambassadors will have gained invaluable experience and skills through teaching for two years. Many of them are actively looking to recruit Teach First participants at the end of the two years, and will be soliciting applications through the secure Teach First site for second year participants and ambassadors.

    They believe participation in Teach First will equip you to succeed in your chosen profession and improve your chances of gaining employment there. We are unable to guarantee that you will find a role with one of our supporters although we endeavour to assist you as much as possible. Find our more about our Career Development opportunities.

     

  • If I complete the Teach First Leadership Development programme, can I leave teaching and return later in life?

    A Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and QTS are the standard qualifications for teaching in England and Wales and as such you are able to return to the profession at any time.

    Teach First is designed for those who commit to teach for two years but not necessarily for the long term, but may decide to return to the profession later in their career as many of our ambassadors have gone on to do.