TEACH FIRST
In at the deep end
The Teach First
programme was
responsible for
placing more
than 350 teachers in schools
at the start of this academic
year. Chris Parr speaks
to two Teach First teachers
about their year so far
ANY NEW teachers come into
M
the profession after studying a
dedicated teaching degree at
university. Many others take
a PGCE and “convert” to
teaching after doing a degree
in another discipline.
There is, however, a “third way” into the classroom,
via the Teach First programme – a government initiative
launched in 2002 that aims to recruit “exceptional” meals, or if less than 25 per cent attain five A* to C challenging schools, and creating high calibre leaders they take their first post, compared to those completing
graduates from across a range of subject areas and grades at GCSE, including maths and English. for all fields – not just education. PGCE courses.
place them in “challenging” schools in the North West Schools on the National and City Challenge schemes “Our first-year teachers have to participate in school Manjit More is a first-year Teach First teacher
of England, the Midlands, or London. are also deemed suitably challenging to be eligible for visits before official training begins, and must also who is placed at Pensnett High School in Dudley. He
The graduates tend to come from high-ranking Teach First teachers. complete detailed work from the moment they are graduated in history from Birmingham University, and
universities, and around a quarter of the scheme’s Professor Sonia Blandford, director of leadership recruited. In addition, they are assigned a Teach First now teaches the subject.
participants attended either Oxford or Cambridge development at Teach First, told us that many of tutor who will visit them at least once every two He told us: “I chose Teach First because I wanted
universities. Upon joining the scheme, they are those who come onto the programme would not have weeks, and also complete six days of subject pedagogy to get into the classroom as quickly as possible, and
contracted to a school for two years. considered entering teaching through other routes. training.” get the responsibility of teaching a full class. Also, I
A school is designated as challenging if more than She said: “Our two main aims are addressing First-year teachers also spend three days on wanted to go into a challenging school, where you can
30 per cent of its students are eligible for free school educational disadvantage by sending teachers into leadership training, and are usually placed in schools really see the difference you are making to the children
with other Teach First participants. you’re teaching.
EVENTS
It is, in effect, the teaching profession’s equivalent “There’s no doubt that even teaching just 80
to a graduate scheme, and those who take part are per cent of a timetable requires a huge amount of
expected to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS) in preparation. I’d say that being ready for each and
their first year while teaching up to 80 per cent of a every class and understanding the different levels
Tuesday, July 14
subject’s timetable, before taking on a full teaching and abilities of your students is probably the biggest
National Sustainable Schools Conference 2009
position in year two. challenge of the first year.
The Sustainable Schools Conferences are designed to help schools to plan their journey to becoming
After the two years, the new teachers choose either “However, you get great support from the school and
sustainable. There will be workshops designed to identify tasks, resources and approaches, as well as a to remain in schools, or move into other sectors. from Teach First, and the rewards when things go well
market place where both local and national organisations who offer support and resources to schools will Around 63 per cent of Teach First alumni chose to are colossal. For example, last year six people opted for
demonstrate their work.
remain in teaching, with 63 per cent of those moving GCSE history, but the intake for next year is 41, and that
Venue: Bristol
quickly into school leadership positions. In one case, a really makes me feel proud of doing this job.”
Contact: www.se-ed.org.uk/conference2009
teacher placed in a school by Teach First five years ago Ms Alldred added: “Sometimes it can feel like you
is now headteacher. have less experience than those who have completed
Laura Alldred, who completed her degree at Oxford dedicating teaching degrees, or PGCE years. But I
July 10 and 14
University in 2007, joined the Teach First scheme don’t feel in any way less equipped than PGCE teachers
OCR 2010 GCSE Expos
last year. She is now approaching the end of her first to learn on the job, and develop skills by simply doing
Learn about OCR’s new GCSE English, maths and ICT specifications. The events will distribute the key
year as a geography teacher at Villiers High School in the job to the best of my ability.”
information about changes in these GCSE subjects, plus details of functional skills and the range of support London. Although around half of the teachers on Teach First
on offer. In attendance will be subject specialists and publishers, and the events will offer more information She told us: “I always knew that I wanted to work leave teaching after completing their second year, Ms
on training opportunities and give the chance to provide feedback and influence final development stages.
with young people, but after completing a pretty tough Alldred has been bitten by the teaching bug, and intends
Venue: Coventry (Friday, July 10), Bristol (Tuesday, July 14)
degree at Oxford, I didn’t really want to go back to to stay longer.
Contact: www.ocr.org.uk/eventbooker (quote course reference OEXP2)
university for another year to do a PGCE course.” “In the summer, I have my second Institute, where
When they sign up to the programme, the new all the participants receive their final grade. I am so
teachers attend an intensive six-week “Summer happy at my school though and, in terms of my job
Wednesday, July 15
Institute”, where they are given their initial teacher here, I’d like to spend more than the obligatory two
The Community Languages National Conference
training. The first three weeks are held regionally, years.
This conference, organised by CILT – the national centre for languages – is open to all those involved in teaching
depending on the location of your placement school, “Many of my year 9s from this year will be going on
community languages, both to primary and secondary-aged children, and will explore the benefits of developing and then all the Teach First participants come together to start their GCSEs in geography next year, and I’d like
a community language on other aspects of learning, including literacy. The conference will also host the official
for three weeks at Canterbury Christ Church University to see that through. Also, the school is introducing the
launch of the Curriculum Guides in Cantonese, Gujarati, Somali, and Yoruba, published by CILT.
in Canterbury. International Baccalaureate, and I am very interested in
Venue: Chilworth Manor, Southampton
Ms Alldred continued: “Because I had some free teaching that.”
Contact: www.cilt.org.uk/cpd/clshow.htm
time before the Summer Institute was due to start, I was Mr More, too, intends to stay on after the two years:
able to get some experience at a few schools close to “Next year I’ll be working with the curriculum manager
where I was living in Manchester. to help formulate schemes of work for key stage 3. I
September 18 to 20
“It was mostly observing teachers, but in one of the hope that one day I can become a head of department,
NAME Annual Conference
schools I was involved in team-teaching lessons, which and then after that, progress into headship. That’s my
The theme for this year’s National Association of Music Educators’ (NAME) conference is “musical gave me a bit of extra classroom experience before I aim.”
development”, and the event promises a broad mix of workshops, presentations and keynote sessions, and started at Villiers at the start of this (academic) year.” Despite the number of Teach First teachers that
a comprehensive exhibition of music education products.
Having gained some experience, Ms Alldred leave the teaching professions, a large number of them
Venue: York University
completed the first week of her Summer Institute in maintain their links with schools. Around two thirds
Contact: www.name.org.uk
London, covering the professional attributes required of the those who move into other sectors continue
and gaining basic training in classroom management. work with the programme, offering pupil mentoring,
Teach First participants spend their second week school governance, or undertaking other school support
Thursday, October 1
in the school in which they are placed, and their positions.
Fourth Annual Delivering Diplomas Conference: Engagement and collaboration
third in another school in order to gain a breadth of Mr More concluded with some sound advice for
SecEd and Delivering Diplomas continues the successful series of Delivering Diplomas events, with a day of
experience. any new teachers, regardless of the passage they have
workshops and addresses from employers, further education and secondary Diploma deliverers. The focus Ms Alldred continued: “I will gain QTS by the end taken into teaching: “For anyone starting in September,
is on how to implement successful partnerships and work together to secure effective Diploma delivery. We
of this year, and then attend a second Summer Institute I think the most important thing is organisation.
have speakers and educationalists from all sectors, including Rolls Royce, the Learning and Skills Network,
during the summer break. “Also, getting to know students outside of lessons is
all 10 of the Sector Skills Councils for phases 1 and 2, and a group of first year Diploma students. Details
“It’s been quite a challenge being pushed in at the important. One of the first things I did was take on the
will also be unveiled at the event for the Fifth Delivering Diplomas conference, which is due to be held in
deep end – which is essentially what happens with year 10 football team, and this more informal interaction
Teach First – but it’s a good kind of tough. You’re with the children really helps you to understand them,”
Birmingham in March 2010, with the theme being sustaining partnerships.
constantly learning, although it can mean that you have he added. SecEd
Venue: Aston University Conference Centre, Birmingham.
to spend longer hours at the school.”
Contact: For the full programme, visit www.deliveringdiplomas.com
One of the concerns about First Teach teachers is the
Further information
relatively short time they have been in training when www.teachfirst.org.uk
20 SecEd • July 9 2009
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