Insight Intern Review

I found it a very eye opening and interesting experience, and I believe I have learned a lot during my time on the Insight Programme. The most enjoyable part was the second week when we were placed in a school, in particular when we taught our own lessons. I found it challenging but I also learned a lot and it was crucial to my understanding of the teaching profession.

During the entire time we were there, I think everyone was made to feel like they were highly desirable as teachers, and they wanted as many of us to go into teaching as possible due to the shortage of STEM teachers. All the staff were extremely friendly and pleasant to us throughout.

The entire first week was dedicated to training us for the school placement and when we would have to teach our own lesson. As such, I would say that we were given plenty of guidance and support.

I believe that I developed my leadership, communication and problem solving skills during this placement. This was due not only to the numerous group activities and presentations we had to work on in the first week, but also because of the lesson we had to teach, since we were given complete control over a class of around 30 secondary school children.

On Teach First's side, the programme was very well structured, however the second week less so, the teachers at our placement schools often left us to our own devices, especially on the first day when they were clearly slightly unprepared for us.

I'd say the atmosphere was incredibly positive, everyone was very friendly (both staff and other Insight participants). The school children were very respectful towards us and I got along well with everyone in general.

I believe we were given a significant amount of training and we had almost all our expenses paid for, as such I can confidently say that Teach First invested quite heavily in us during this programme.

Although we did have training and a school placement for a week, I think teaching only one lesson doesn't properly reflect on what the LDP (full time) programme with Teach First would be like. Perhaps a third week would be beneficial, if we were to be placed in our schools for an extra week.

Insight didn't particularly help in this respect, but that is only because Teach First's message is very clearly given and explained on their website, so I was already fully aware of it by the time I came to Insight.

I think, having done the Insight, I now have a better understanding of the teaching profession and it has helped me to make an informed decision on whether to pursue it as a career.

Accommodation was paid for by Teach First, we also get paid £500 in total (for 2 weeks), and I am currently awaiting reimbursement for my travel expenses.

Outside of the people directly involved with the Insight programme, there were only one or two opportunities to meet other people in the company, but only a handful.

We met a handful of current Teach First teachers, who told us about their school experiences, what they were involved with and how Teach First helped them get to where they are now. All in all, it was an interesting and useful talk.

Not really.

I would, but only if they were at all thinking about pursuing the teaching profession, otherwise no.