TeachFirst - anyone have TeachFirst students or did it themselves?

[CrispsForTea]

Hi everyone,
I'm in my final year of a Biology degree and I'm thinking about doing the TeachFirst scheme. For anyone who doesn't know much about it, it's basically a two year scheme (second year is an NQT year) that places graduates in schools with a lot of children from underprivileged backgrounds. You get 5 weeks' intensive training in June and July and then you're basically a teacher, as far as I can tell (the kids don't even know that you're not qualified). After the two years, you can either stay in teaching or leave, and you finish with a PGDE (basically a step closer to a masters than a PGCE), QTS and a completed NQT year.

I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with the scheme and could tell me exactly how brutal it is, if any mentors notice a difference between conventional PGCE students and TeachFirst students, how much choice you get regarding subject and location etc.

Thanks in advance!!

Yes you need a PGCE to teach abroad. Well, I expect some international schools may have their own policies however in general I think PGCE is expected.

@MaisyPops- I was aware they spent a week in another school and 1/2 days in primary, but I'm not sure if a week is long enough to really gain experience in another school? Obviously you can see how things are done and see a broader range of practice, but I don't think it's quite the same as having two full placements? In two years, an NQT from a PGCE route would have spend decent amount of time in 3 schools (2 placements + NQT school)- which is surely beneficial as you can try to take the best aspects from each?

I was also worried about the prospect of being "stuck" in one school for two years if there were issues or I didn't have a good school mentor etc.

I'm not against Teach First, but I personally decided it wasn't for me, and this was one of the biggest reasons why.

I know quite a few fellow TFers who did the programme before you got the PGCE, or later PGDE, and like me only have QTS. They had no problems getting quite senior roles in international schools in HK, Malaysia, Kenya and the UAE. They do all have degrees from internationally prestigious universities, however, which probably helped (Oxbridge, Imperial, LSE etc). I don't know if they would have had problems if they had wanted to teach in local, rather than international, schools.

That's a good point about placements that I hadn't considered LadyLance. My friend is doing a university-led PGCE and, although she didn't enjoy her second placement school, I think it did teach her a lot about what not to do. Also hadn't considered being "stuck" in the same school for two years, especially as there's probably good reason they have a high staff turnover...

I did TF years ago when it was still in London too. I wanted to get straight into work and I didn't want to spend any more time studying so the PGCE didn't appeal. It was tough, but I'd say no more tough than being a junior doctor or a management consultant in terms of hours and stress (I have friends who did those). Its great strength is that you get into the classroom faster and base your teaching practice in what's effective rather than the bullshit theory that a lot of the teaching colleges churn out ('learning styles', anyone?). I found TF colleagues much more willing to plunge in and do stuff, whereas PGCE trained teachers were more likely to be clock watchers who would plead union rules for not being able to do their own photocopying or stay after school for an urgent meeting with parents.

When I did it, it was quite geared to seeing teaching as a first career - that's different now, as they realised it had a better retention rate than PGCE (as someone said above). It's now definitely seen more as a route into teaching rather than a challenging graduate scheme. They also train you explicitly for school leadership - my friends who stayed in teaching are now all heads/assistant heads/heads of year etc.

You will be put in schools that need you most, if that's appealing. You don't get much say over where though, which isn't ideal now it's nearly nationwide.

I'm not teaching at the moment (though I am a school governor) but I would never rule out going back to it.

By ‘union rules’ I assume you mean the national Co-ordinated action aimed at reducing the appalling workload? Nice to see your willingness to support colleagues, Gove must be so proud.

as they realised it had a better retention rate than PGCE

Nope, especially not if you match by gender, ethnicity, background and subject. Retention is much worse after Y2 for Teach First, which makes sense because they only commit to teaching for 2 years anyway. It’s also way more expensive to train a TF teacher, about £14,000 per student more than other routes.

as they realised it had a better retention rate than PGCE

Really?! I thought TF had a shocking retention rate?