Taster Experience Review

I found the taster to be a very enjoyable experience and appreciated working with individuals who had competencies for collaborative working - learnt a lot from fellow participants. Overall was a very informative and thought-provoking experience that I greatly enjoyed. Very well facilitated and great atmosphere. I didn't think I was so interested in teaching prior to taking part but was curious to find out more and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the experience. The sessions are enjoyable in and of themselves and are also for an organisation working to make meaningful impact.

There was a mistake with my application and Teach First really went above and beyond to get in touch with me regarding this. I was contacted directly without prompting and they investigated the situation very thoroughly, which really impressed me about them. On the experience itself, the regular use of small group breakout rooms made it feel very personable and easy to engage with. I felt value and that it was easy to share and make the most of the experience. It was clear Teach First really aim to be fair in their recruitment and give everyone a fair chance.

It was a very structured experience and incredibly well facilitated. The virtual experience consisted of many Teach First graduates / recruiters / partners providing lots of information about applications in a supportive way. There was also a very transparent application process for the experience and information regarding future opportunities, specifying what they're looking for. During the virtual experience, we had to prepare a mock lesson and we had plenty of resources and opportunities to network to succeed at this, in addition to feedback.

The session is developed working on Teach First's competencies. It involved activities where you were actively using and enacting these competencies. Though a short experience I really felt there was opportunity to develop a framework to continue developing my skills in the future. The session provided lots of information about future opportunities - either voluntary, training or paid - that value the experience in their recruitment process. The information provided was very helpful to future applications.

Incredibly well organised, from the application right through to the review. Always provided with sufficient information and resources for every step. We were sent resources beforehand in an easily accessibly format with clear instructions as to what was expected of us. There was a daily timetable which was adhered to which details as to what to expect from each session. The use of technology and resources was impeccable with clear instructions and help always on hand.

The atmosphere was lovely, and that was something that was mentioned repeatedly by attendees during the course. As a result of the recruitment process, many of the participants were very easy to work with and amicable. This, alongside good and well organised facilitation, led to an atmosphere where it was enjoyable and beneficial to engage. There was a definite atmosphere of improvement, rather than criticising. All the organisers were very open to answering questions and were available to help out when necessary.

The experience was very much tailored to be beneficial to participants. There was continual reference to personal development and key skills required for teaching and working for Teach First. In the mock lesson session that we taught, we were individually provided with feedback from a qualified teacher which was accurate and honest and gave an insight into what teaching is really like. Plenty of information and resources were provided during the experience to help with future development.

There was plenty of information from various speakers who gave really useful insight into the training programme and what it is like to be a teacher. I particularly appreciated how the speakers were honest about the reality of the role and the difficulties they have faced, this was resultantly a very positive reflection of Teach First as it showed the supportive atmosphere they create. There was opportunity to experience teaching a mock lesson which gave an insight into teacher as a whole.

Due to COVID-19 there was no opportunity to engage with students directly but typically this would be offered. Various speakers gave a good insight into the work environment.

I approached this opportunity not really knowing very much about the pathway to becoming a teacher. The experienced provided lots of information relayed with enthusiasm which I found very beneficial. Being well informed helped me to consider if the route was right to me. There was information about the entire process of application and the training programme as well as what the job is like, all of which is important to decide a career path.

Not necessary, online upskilling experience.

Spoke to various employees during the experience who expressed that they were keen to answer any questions. The facebook group will also been a future avenue to keep up to date with the company.

We were put into many small group discussions on zoom throughout the duration of the experience which allowed us to connect with other attendees. There were plenty of opportunities to exchange ideas and a quiz on the first day which was fun and a nice break from concentrating in the sessions. Teach First created a facebook group for us to connect with other attendees. Also provided information about connecting with campus ambassadors. There could've been more networking.

Provided with information about activities available to Teach First trainees including optional summer projects to develop skills and some info on how to run extra-curriculars when a teacher. Told about the supportive atmosphere of Teach First, in that they try to connect trainees to each other as part of a support network so they can contact each other for advice about teaching. Information about continued professional development and advancement in your career such as extending the PGDE to a master's.

Highly recommended if you have an interest in learning more about a career in teaching.