Teach First is a charity that provides the training and support to enable high-calibre graduates to make a real impact in addressing one of the UK’s most damaging social issues, educational disadvantage. At the same time, while they are transforming the lives of young people in schools around the country, Teach First helps graduates to dramatically enhance their own career potential, in schools and elsewhere, and become part of a movement that is effecting profound change throughout the UK.
At the heart of Teach First is a unique two-year Leadership Development Programme (LDP). Challenging, stimulating and practical, it has been designed to develop your leadership skills, giving you the ability to adapt to new or changing situations and inspire enthusiasm and ambition in the classroom.
The LDP is delivered through a combination of mandatory and elective elements all structured to fit around your busy teaching schedule and designed to allow you to map out a development journey that best ensures your short-term impact and suits your own long-term goals. Throughout the two years you will receive training and support – collectively from Teach First, your university training provider (during the first year) and from your school.
The minimum requirements for graduate candidates for Teach First are:
· 2.1 degree or above
· 300 UCAS points (or equivalent, excluding General Studies)
· Degree and/or A level grade A or B (or equivalent) in a subject that is aligned to a National Curriculum subject
· Grade C (or equivalent) in GCSE Maths and English (Grade C in one Science GSCE required for primary teaching)
· Proof that you have the right to remain and work in the UK for the duration of training and two year programme must be provided before 20 May
· Flexibility to work anywhere within East Midlands, Kent & Medway, London, North East, North West, West Midlands and Yorkshire
After these minimum requirements, selection is based on your ability to demonstrate the following competencies: Humility, Respect and Empathy
· Interaction
· Knowledge (teaching subject and the programme)
· Leadership
· Planning and Organising
· Problem solving
· Resilience
· Self-evaluation
Teach First is a values driven organisation and together with our competencies we expect candidates to demonstrate both throughout the application process and processes thereafter:
Teach First’s selection process is straightforward. You apply online, your application is reviewed and if successful at that stage, you will be invited to an assessment centre. The assessment centre is a one-day event incorporating an interview, a group exercise, a sample teaching lesson and self-evaluation. Success here will lead to an offer, conditional on your successful completion of a Subject Knowledge Audit in the subject you will be teaching, reference checks and completion of the Summer Institute.
Each Assessment Centre comprises the following elements, though not necessarily in this order:
You will be asked to deliver a pre-prepared seven-minute lesson on the National Curriculum subject chosen on your application form. Your lesson should be aimed at an audience of Key Stage 3 (11-14yrs) pupils but will be delivered to one assessor and one teacher. The assessors will be looking for you to demonstrate your ability to communicate your topic to pupils in an appropriate and creative manner. Once your lesson is over you will be asked to make a written evaluation of your performance. Provided you have confirmed acceptance of your Assessment Centre date, we will send you all the relevant details for your sample teaching lesson one week before your allocated date.
Designed to test how you think, solve problems, express solutions and interact with other people, this exercise will last approximately 30 minutes. At the end you will have the chance to evaluate your performance. This exercise will end with a one-on-one debrief with an assessor, where you will be given the opportunity to evaluate the group and your performance during the lesson.
You will have a one-on-one interview with one of our assessors, focusing on how you can demonstrate our competencies. The interview will last for approximately 30 minutes, at the end of which you will have the chance to ask any questions you may have about the programme or your application.
For further information about the Teach First Leadership Development Programme please visit the website www.teachfirst.org.uk