Insight Programme participant Review

I enjoyed the insight programme, especially the school placement. Helping to run year group STEM days was fun and rewarding. I particularly liked the aspects of the training week that related to teaching practice. Additionally, the insight programme gave me plenty of opportunity to spend time with other participants- other students with potentially similar interests and aspirations.

Many of the sessions during the training focused on our own personal development and potential future with Teach First and related organisations. We were given opportunities to network and speak to ambassadors and graduate recruiters about our plans and future. I also received a follow up phone call after the programme to discuss how I found the programme and to help me with further steps and engagement with Teach First.

As participants, prior to attending the insight programme we were invited to be part of both the Teach First community website, and an insight programme Facebook group, which gave us information and guidance. We were given schedules and information about our placements, as well as advice. We were also able to contact Teach First staff during the programme if we had any problems, including with travel to our school placement (which we organised ourselves).

The sessions on personal development during the training week were definitely useful in helping me to think about my own skills and how I can improve them. The school experience was also definitely useful, especially in developing my leadership skills. I also learned some helpful information and gained experience regarding educational inequality, which will be relevant to the education studies modules of my degree.

The structure was very clear and we were given timetables in advance. The first week was training in London, and the second week was four days on placement at a partner school, with the final day as a conclusion back in London. The training was structured into sessions, each planned to focus on particular skills. The school placements were more varied depending on where each participant was assigned.

The atmosphere during the training was positive and welcoming, and this extended to the online groups. It was consistent and encouraged us to engage with and to be part of the Teach First vision of tackling educational inequality. It was serious with regards to the social problems facing education, but positive with regards to the potential for this to change and the impact of the organisation.

A lot of the insight programme was focused on personal training and development, including knowledge about teaching and education, and transferable skills. We were strongly encouraged to engage further with Teach First and associated organisations. Teach First followed up with us after the programme, and offered support with our future development and applications.

The insight programme training included lots of information about the leadership development programme- both what it involves and the application process. The school placement both gave us a small amount of experience teaching, and gave us the opportunity to talk to current leadership development programme participants who were teaching at the school.

The insight programme focused strongly on the Teach First vision, and how staff and participants aim to tackle educational inequality. We were encouraged to be part of the culture of the charity and their aspirations, both through engagement with insight and the graduate leadership development programme, and through Teach First societies at our universities.

The insight programme gave lots of information about the leadership development programme, and thus helped me to decide whether it was something I wanted to apply for. We also attended sessions delivered by associated organisations, including charities and big companies, and this gave me more useful information that I can use in deciding on my future career path.

I was paid £500- I used some of this to cover travel to the training in London and to the school placement.

Many of the training sessions were delivered by employees of Teach First, who gave us insights into their own experience. There was also a dedicated networking session, during which we could talk to people in the areas of the organisation we were interested in. During the school placement, we could also talk to current participants of the leadership development programme who were teachers at the school.

The networking opportunities were quite good- we could choose who to talk to depending on our particular interests, and everyone was very helpful. There were also social opportunities, allowing us to get to know other participants and have fun. The organised ones were quite good but quite a few people chose not to attend.

There were sessions during the training part of the programme that focused on opportunities available in addition to teaching as part of the leadership development programme. This includes the summer projects- including placements in different companies and organisations. These are available to participants of the leadership development programme for the rest of their lives.

Yes, I would recommend the programme to friends who are interested in Teach First, and/ or in teaching and education generally. The insight programme gave me lots of useful training and valuable school experience. The organisation are also supportive of participants. The programme was very worthwhile, as is the mission of Teach First, tackling educational inequality.