Teach First

[snaxinyourslacks]

Does anyone have any recentish experience of Teach First?

I am a TA with many years experience. I've been offered a place on a PGCE via schools direct to start in September. My Head Teacher has now asked me to stay on at school and take up my PGCE via Teach First instead. I am obviously very flattered that they think highly enough of me to offer this to me but I am finding it tough trying to make an informed decision. I can see the pros and cons and I'm a bit nervous of having full responsibility of a class along with studying and not doing either well enough.

All the reviews I read online are really negative and I thought I had made up my mind that Teach First is not for me but after having a meeting with them today, it seems much more achievable than what I thought. Not sure if I have just been sold a sales pitch though.

Any thoughts, the good, the bad and the ugly will be greatly appreciated!

I am not up to date with the pros and cons of either but I think knowing the school (and knowing they have your back) is a HUGE plus point for staying where you are.

Teacher training is hard, whichever route you take, but you will have a massive head start if you know where everything is / behaviour policies / who to ask for help / all the unwritten rules of the school / and so much more, in your present school.

Good luck.

@Kite22 thank you. It's nice to see someone say something positive about it. I really do agree with you, I am however concerned that I will be limiting myself by not doing placements at different schools and just staying put at the school I know. But I am also old and I've been around schools for many years so I feel I've seen a lot over the years. I wish it was easier to make the decision ....

@Kite22

I am not up to date with the pros and cons of either but I think knowing the school (and knowing they have your back) is a HUGE plus point for staying where you are.

Teacher training is hard, whichever route you take, but you will have a massive head start if you know where everything is / behaviour policies / who to ask for help / all the unwritten rules of the school / and so much more, in your present school.

Good luck.

Completely disagree. Making the transition from TA to teacher in an place where you have already been established as a TA for many years is far more difficult than taking a fresh start with children who have only ever known you as a teacher. Whilst a lot is done in schools to ensure children treat all staff with respect and view all staff as equals, this isn't always mirrored in the real opinions of children, parents and even other staff. If you stay, you will have to deal with the shedding of your old skin before you will be recognised in your new one.

@Iamnotthe1 this is a concern for me. Not so much for the children as I do lots of hlta cover around the school and they are all lovely but I'm concerned about how some staff as well as parents will take it.

Making the transition from TA to teacher in an place where you have already been established as a TA for many years is far more difficult than taking a fresh start with children who have only ever known you as a teacher
I totally agree with this. I can see the appeal BUT I think everyone benefits from the multiple placements experience.

Not my experience at all @Iamnotthe1 - but then the TAs who have done this in schools I have worked at are TAs that have been very well respected by the whole community.
Also, and as I say I am not up to date with the different schemes at all, but when TAs have done this, they have done one placement in their own school and then gone off to the next placement at a different school. I do agree there are advantages to getting different experiences in different schools, although many people get jobs in the schools they train in - as indeed happens with people doing B.Eds and other Primary Education degrees with QTS.

Teach First has a wonderful sales pitch. It is unlikely that you would get yours current school as your TF school unless they have some strings to pull. TF reserve the right to place you anywhere in the country and for any subject they need you to do. I’ve seen law degree holders forced to teach maths because they have an A level in maths. It’s is a brutal experience and many people find it too much.

I've decided not to apply as I cannot find any (well very little) good feedback about them as an organisation. Thank you for all your replies.

Oh and I forgot to say, I almost did get taken in by their excellent sales pitch!

I trained with Teach First and have a lot of time for them, but your HT misunderstood how it works if they thought they could just offer you a place. Recruitment is highly centralised. Good luck with your SD PGCE!

@ThanksItHasPockets apparently the recruitment/application process has changed. A school can now nominate a member of staff - this is aimed mostly at rural or coastal schools who may struggle with recruitment. Apparently if you are nominated by your school you do not need to go through the central interview process with them.

Interesting! That sounds like a sensible measure. Nevertheless SD sounds like the right choice for you this time. Good luck