Insight participant Review

I found that the insight programme was very useful overall in helping my decision on whether to go into teaching. I felt that skills taught in the first week were not all relevant but overall I gained a lot from the experience and thoroughly enjoyed the second week in schools.

The impact of their mission was made very clear throughout the programme and the individual impact we could go on to have was also emphasised. This helped to reinforce the importance of the programme and did make me feel valued. The emphasis on how much of an impact we could have even in the short period we were in skills also reinforced this.

The training during the first week was very thorough, though the relevance to the programme was not always communicated. There was a lot of support throughout both weeks of the programme for any struggles faced and everyone was very open to questions. The purpose was well communicated to schools so support was also excellent there.

While some of the skills were less transferable, I felt that the majority of the skills I gained during the programme would be useful going forward. In particular the sessions on presentation skills and the leadership skills gained throughout. The confidence and insights I gained in the second week is also something that will definitely help me going forward.

The structure of the programme was very clear and made sense. One week of training followed by one week in schools meant that I felt well prepared going into the second week. The training in the first week was quite full on and packed, however, and some sessions did not seem as necessary.

The atmosphere throughout the placement was vey supportive and the importance of the programme was made clear. The level of enjoyment varied throughout the day in the first week based on the tasks however overall was very positive. The second week was extremely enjoyable and provides a great insight into the role of teaching.

The first week of the programme was entirely focussed on providing training. This focussed on areas specific to teaching as well as more general training in communication and leadership skills. There was also a focus on personal development throughout the programme with 3 forms to complete regarding our development at the start, midway through and at the end of the programme.

The purpose and structure of the Leadership Development Programme with TeachFirst was made clear through a few sessions in the first week of the programme. The second week of the programme, which was spent in schools, provided an insight into what a career in teaching would be like as we were given the opportunity to teach our own lesson as well as observing.

The TeachFirst mission was clearly communicated in various sessions throughout the programme. Everyone was friendly and welcoming and the various roles available to take on were discussed during sessions about opportunities at TeachFirst. However only one day of the programme was spent at the TeachFirst offices so there was not much exposure to other members of the organisation.

The first week of the programme did not help me to decide on whether I would go into teaching. However, the second week spent in schools was much more valuable in this respect. The opportunity to teach a lesson as well as observe different lessons provided a great insight into what the career would hold.

The pay was £250 per week of the insight programme. I was also reimbursed for travel to and from the training venue / school for the duration of the programme. Accommodation was also provided and paid for by TeachFirst both in London and the local area where the school was based.

There were a couple of networking opportunities made available throughout the programme in a casual setting. There was also 2 sessions were ambassadors who had completed the programme formed a panel to talk about what they have done since and how they are still involved in TeachFirst. However I would have liked the opportunity to meet a wider range of employees at the company.

The social opportunities consisted of drinks on the first and last days of the programme. This was a good way to get to know the other people on the programme and also the TeachFirst employees responsible for the programme. There is also a reunion event planned a few months after the programme.

Opportunities and activities to get involved in outside of work were not communicated clearly. There were a couple of external speakers who mentioned events and groups we could join however it would have been beneficial to hear more from TeachFirst employees in various roles about the opportunities they take on.

If you are considering teaching then Insight is an excellent opportunity to experience what it would be like. The first week of training was okay though not all the sessions were well presented. However the opportunities and responsibility given in the second week in schools were excellent and definitely worth doing.