Teach First - Sugra Alibhai Watson

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Sugra Alibhai-Watson

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Sugra Alibhai-Watson (’05) Economics, Edinburgh
Taught Maths Uxbridge High School
Now Assistant Principal, Harefield Academy

I’m Sugra Alibhai-Watson and I joined Teach First in 2005. I graduated from Edinburgh University and read Economics. I am currently an Assistant Principal at the Harefield Academy.

I have done an internship with the Foreign Office in Nigeria, I’ve worked for JP Morgan, I’ve done two (internships) with the BBC, and over the course of those four internships I thought that I don’t really know what I want to do.

So Teach First seemed like a really great way of building my skills up, doing something completely new, doing something completely worthwhile, but being allowed to do something after the two years that was maybe banking or the Foreign Office, and it not being failing something. So it being an opportunity to grow and develop, but being allowed to leave it with your head held high.

I remember having this ‘penny drop’ moment and thinking ‘I want to be a teacher and I love teaching’. If I am being honest it was about being proud of being part of the profession.

I also realise that in teaching, if you are ambitious and motivated and have high expectations for the students and for yourself you can really progress. And there are lots and lots of opportunities for people in teaching. It’s not like you have to serve a certain number of years at a certain level and then you can move up. Things are very, very different now.

I am an Assistant Principal and I hope that in time I can progress even further and make as much of an impact as I can in education.

Recruitment & Selection

Are you the kind of person who could make an impact in one of Teach First’s partner schools? You’ll need bright ideas, gritty determination, awesome communication skills and the confidence to stand up in front of 30 pupils, engage their attention, deflect their jibes and lead them on a journey. It’s a big ask.

At the heart of Teach First is a unique two-year Leadership Development Programme. Challenging, stimulating and practical, it has been designed to develop your leadership skills, giving you the ability to adapt to new or changing situation and inspire enthusiasm and ambition in the classroom.

Ambassador offering

As a Teach First Ambassador you will be part of a network like no other – a group of influential leaders in education, policy, business and the third sector, united by shared experience, benefiting from its ongoing support and contributing to its mission.