Taster Programme Participant Review

by Teach First

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

3/5
  • About You
    3.4
  • The Company
    3.2
  • Everything Else
    2.4

    About You

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy the insight?
  • On the 2-day Taster Programme, I enjoyed the activities and the encouragement to recognise underdeveloped skills. It was good to receive help in developing these, from the programme coordinators as well as from other participants. However, the whole thing seemed a bit too focused on how to do well in assessment centres and interviews, and less on actual teaching.

    4/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued during your time at the company or firm?
  • I was only at the company for two days, with a group of about 30 participants, so we were treated like guests rather than members of the company, which was appropriate. We were not fulfilling important tasks for the company, so were not valued in a sense other than we had shown an interest in their work.

    2/5

  • 3. How much guidance/support did you receive during the insight?
  • The programme was largely based on supported self-assessment. I was given a small amount of individual feedback, which was very helpful. We also received feedback multiple times in small groups, mainly on how well we worked together, which obviously differed depending on the people in the group. We were given full instructions of the activities throughout.

    4/5

  • 4. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and information you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • The taster programme is designed to lead in to the Teach First leadership development programme, which I am hoping to participate in as a route into teaching. In this sense the programme was very helpful, as it strengthened the mindset I need for the graduate programme and the associated assessment centres.

    4/5

    The Company

  • 5. How well structured was the insight?
  • The programme was very well structured - every activity had a set time and things didn't run over. This was partly due to the emphasis on time management skills, and partly due to the good organisation. Once or twice the end time of a break wasn't stated and so people were still in the toilet etc. when we were called back.

    4/5

  • 6. How was the general atmosphere during your insight?
  • Generally the atmosphere was very excitable, but occasionally if we'd been left with something easy and individual to do, people got bored. Even in the evening and morning, when we were provided with dinner and breakfast, and at lunchtimes, everyone was engaging with one another. It was sometimes a little overwhelming.

    5/5

  • 7. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • Over only two days, the company helped me develop new transferable skills, including teamwork, time management, self-assessment, ethical choices and leadership. However, I didn't receive any specific training or specific skills for teaching over the short time period, so the company didn't invest hugely in me or the other participants.

    3/5

  • 8. To what extent did the insight help you to understand what it would be like to have a full time role with the company or firm?
  • The taster programme was not designed to be structurally similar to the leadership development programme, and so was not particularly informative.

    1/5

  • 9. How much did the insight help you in understanding the company culture?
  • The taster programme helped me to understand the corporate culture of ticking off skills and competencies. The programme was designed to help performance in assessment centres and interviews, which are very important to Teach First in selecting applicants for the graduate programme, and having a less-biased way of ranking applicants than on the interviewer's opinion.

    4/5

  • 10. How valuable was the content in helping you to decide on your future career path?
  • The taster was quite enjoyable, so I decided to apply for Teach First's insight programme. If I get on to the insight and enjoy it, I will probably apply for their graduate programme, which will influence my career for two years. However, I have always wanted to go into teaching.

    4/5

    Everything Else

  • 11. Were you paid or reimbursed adequately for this experience?
  • I was reimbursed travel expenses for which I could produce a receipt. This did not include the London tube, as I didn't get a receipt for my travel.


  • 12. Were there opportunities for networking and meeting other employees of the company or firm?
  • There were plenty of opportunities to hear alumni of the leadership development program speak, but not many opportunities to network with them.

    2/5

  • 13. How were the networking/ social event opportunities?
  • Networking with other participants was very enjoyable, especially as we usually talked during meals. The opportunities fair was helpful, but there were only three stands and one had to leave a few minutes in, so there was not a lot to do there. There weren't really any other networking opportunities.

    4/5

  • 14. Did you find out about activities that employees can get involved in outside of work?
  • This was not mentioned.

    1/5

  • 15. Would you recommend this insight to a friend?
  • If the friend was interested in going into teaching, and also passionate about ending educational inequality in the UK, I would recommend the taster programme as a way of deciding whether Teach First was for them. If they only want to teach and don't want to be involved with businesses at all, then I would not recommend the programme.

    4/5

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Details

Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)

Education/Teaching

London

September 2018


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