Student Review

This experience was a really good insight into the training programme for TeachFirst. I had access to information given by knowledgeable and supportive ambassadors and was able to also network with other like-minded peers who shared a passion/keen interest in teaching.

The coordinator made sure that everyone was accounted for and when we may have not clicked the right link or understood the questions properly made sure we were up t speed and contacted us directly to make sure we were on the right track.

We had a briefing every morning and afternoon with access to resources, timetables and ambassador guidance to help guide us through the tasks. Emails were sent with appropriate zoom links and we were offered further guidance via video from coordinators who were at hand to answer any calls throughout the day.

The skills I have learnt are very much based on going on to become a teacher/ carrying on with the training programme therefore it may not help me if I decided to choose a different career path. However, the skills I have learnt carrying out group tasks and practice sessions have helped me to develop other skills necessary for future job interviews or training programmes.

First day was all the information about all the skills and techniques to use in teaching episode, next day was practicing with facilitators and other peers as well as giving and receiving feedback. Last day was assessments of our teaching episodes and group case study tasks. Very well structured.

It was good because you had like-minded people on the course so there was a general nice vibe between everyone but I guess due to nervousness and the fact it was a video call it was difficult to build good relationships.

We had group sessions with facilitators which offered personal feedback about our teaching sessions and how we performed as both a teacher and an assessor of other's feedback. We were also given feedback forms from the assessors at the end of the development centre personalised and discussed with us which we could use to set goals and help us to develop during the virtual experience. I felt valued and invested by the company by the amount that they made it a personal experience.

As it was a virtual experience, it was never going to be as realistic for what it would be like working full time in the company. However, it gave a good insight into different teaching methods and lots of information was given to answer our queries about working full time from people who had already experienced the training programme themselves. Other methods were used during the assessment which held make the scenarios more realistic to the actual job.

They really emphasised the key aim for the charity and what the company is all about from the delivery of the lessons they taught us, the skills they taught (which were back by expert educational research) and the case study scenarios we were faced with and even a debate about a current problem being faced at the moment really helped with the understanding of the company culture. I'm assured that if I was to get a place on the training programme this would be continued throughout.

This was not a paid experience. Before the virtual experience was offered, the internship itself was a paid opportunity as it involved teaching within a school and over a much longer time period than the virtual experience offered. As the company is an educational charity, I believe if the money was not spent on putting us in schools it was better left to other projects which could help the company achieve its overall aim and company culture.

Yes there were ambassadors who had previously worked at the company and current trainees on the programme who came to share their stories so there was a wide range of opportunities to get their opinions on working with the company. The majority of the assessors and coordinators were also former trainees who had been on a similar programme so it was great to get their reassurance and hear about their experiences during training and whilst working for the company.

We had a welcome webinar prior to the start of the training programme, a facebook group to keep in touch with colleagues and during the experience we were able to practice in groups, one-to-one within breakout rooms so we could network with other peers on the course. We have also been notified of other social events following the completion of the virtual experience. A quiz and debate was also put on as a fun social event to get everyone involved and working with each other.

We were notified about opportunities which we could get involved in outside of TeachFirst- in terms of the inks they had with other companies. We were also told there would be a support network in the area where we would be placed which would mean we could flat share with other colleagues. However there was little discussion about other extracurricular activities the company offered. However I don't think that it was relevant for this experience.

Yes I would definitely recommend this to a friend, especially someone who would like to pursue a career in teaching. The course itself is great and I think the virtual experience was well structured and I felt like I was occupied most of the time with work or activities to do so felt like they really got the most out of three days and don't believe there was much else that another day could have added which the virtual experience didn't already offer.