Insight Participant Review

The insight programme gave me the opportunity to meet new people and develop new skills. The chance to teach a lesson in school was both daunting and exciting, but I'm glad I did it!

The organisers knew everyone's name and made sure to ask personally about your experiences at some point during the 2 weeks. They also conducted interviews so it felt like they were with you from start to finish.

The first week was very helpful to develop the foundation skills, and they made sure to answer everyone's questions. They were always contactable if anything went wrong in school.

The insight programme allowed me to develop my teamwork, perseverance and problem solving skills. The challenges that I faced while working in an unfamiliar setting really pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to experience the world of work, whether teaching is something you want to do or not, it's opened up many career paths to me!

The first week was very well structured, with timetables being sent out before the programme started. They generally didn't overrun and the day didn't seem to drag on at any point. The second week is very much down to which school you get, and mine wasn't the best at organisation, but still had a very engaging experience and was always busy!

The atmosphere was always exciting and enthusiastic. Everyone is like-minded and this leads to great conversations. Even after the day of workshops had finished we would often go to the pub! The fun definitely didn't stop!

They paid for a DBS checks and ensured everything was sorted out prior to arrival, including accommodation. They had booked many speakers from different areas, including the royal navy and PwC consulting. They also paid us for the programme, so they feel it is in their best interest to train you to an acceptable standard.

The programme allowed us to see every aspect of their training for the leadership development programme, which lasts for two years. Although a very brief insight, it really helped me understand what working in a school could be like, from the ups and downs to the workload and learning curve involved. The current placement students were sure to emphasise the fun that they have had so far!

Teach First is a charity that aims to provide quality education to students from low economic backgrounds and inspire them to go to university. Over the two weeks they really passed over their enthusiasm for their 'mission' and were clear that it is challenging but they are there to support you throughout. Having the opportunity to meet current and past participants was very helpful as well.

The first week was filled with talks and workshops, which were very informative and gave us a basic understanding of the requirements. They showed us the other careers that Teach First can lead you to and how to get there. The second week aimed to show us what life is like as a Teach First LDP participant, which surprised me at how interesting and varied a teaching career could be!

I was paid £500 for the 2 week placement.

We were always given the opportunity to network with any guests that joined us, e.g. From PwC and Royal Navy. We also had an opportunity to network with current and past participants and most importantly each other. There was really an emphasis on forming a support network during the LDP.

After each day we would visit the pub (usually to network). After this, we took our initiative to network as a cohort, and often went out in London to explore. Each day was always really busy and I have made new friends because of it.

I never really found out that much, as we'd often just travel back to our hotel after work, but there is always the opportunity to ask anyone! It was a very friendly atmosphere in the school and I got the impression they all met up outside of work.

Definitely, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Challenging at times, but I have learnt new skills and pushed myself to develop myself as a person. Teach first taught me the importance of self evaluation and constantly looking at where you're heading towards.