Insight Participant Review

I really enjoyed Insight, and found I even enjoyed it more than I expected. I think the layout of one week training and then one week in a school worked brilliantly. The training, although was just mainly listening in a big room, was interesting, engaging and inspiring. It also had excellent leads to the grad scheme, which they really promoted, making the purpose of Insight really clear.

All the people we came into contact to were very friendly. They were excellent speakers who made me feel really at ease. However there were some omissions. We were put in shared accommodation, rooms of up to 8 in hostels, which I thought was unprofessional and we would not have been treated in in that way if we were adults. Also, I found the one complaint I did have was not dealt with well.

There was scaffolding for very strong guidance and support however I do not think this was utilised to it's full potential. For example, there were individuals who supported me well, however some organisational errors between Teach First and my school meant my school was not totally prepared to support me

I believe the skills I learnt in Insight gave me a firm and wide ranging foundation of skills from which to build from. Teach First are excellent at laying out and equipping us with the competencies they expected of us, and the development I have made in these areas between initiating my application and finishing the Insight programme is second to none. They also ensured reflection on such skills, so that I am now in a self-critical position, and know how I could improve these skills further.

Very well structured, as mentioned in my first answer. The first week of training ensured we felt comfortable and familiar with Teach First, they mission, and teacher training. The second week allowed us implement what we had learnt with practical experience. The final day of the second week, back in Teach First offices, really helped to consolidate everything Teach First is about.

There was a focus on the residential aspect which played out well such that there was a good atmosphere. I think the side of the group also contributed to this, as the group knew each other well.

There was strong evidence of investment, particularly in the session with PwC - Promoting your personal brand. I felt this was an invaluable experience that I was honoured to have the opportunity to have had. It gave a real insight into how employers see candidates, in a clear way that felt like they genuinely wanted us to succeed. There was also a log book which was supposed to bolster our experience. This was a good book, but I feel could have been implemented more throughout Insight to have more actual impact on my development.

Insight gave a detailed analysis of the Leadership Development Programme - right from the application process to the responsibilities we would take on alongside our classes after the Summer Institute to the Summer Projects. I felt this description was thorough and detailed. There was also good insight into the opportunities one might take after the LDP, this was also really interesting and detailed many opportunities I did not know of yet.

There was a specific session right at the start on Teach First's mission, and a lot of reference to truly understanding educational inequality. I think this was a part of the company that was well expressed - both through planned sessions and through the enthusiasm of the people from Teach First we came into contact with.

It not only confirmed the reasons I had been interested in Insight, it helped me to decide the nuances of my plan for after university. It also helped me think about what I might like to do after the 2 years of the graduate scheme was over. As far as I am concerned, this insight functioned perfectly in a assisting me on my future plans.

I was paid more than enough to cover travel and living expenses, and accommodation was provided.

Yes. There were opportunities at the end of each small session to network and ask question to the speaker - both in front of the whole room or individually - the speakers were from wide ranging areas of Teach First and beyond. There was also a networking session on the last day.

The small networking after sessions worked very well as it was a relaxed atmosphere and all the speakers were very approachable. The networking session not he last day was not as well done, as it was mainly just Graduate Recruitment Officers attending. However it gave another good opportunity to network with people we'd already met.

I don't specifically remember anything about this..

Yes. I would recommend it to anyone considering teaching/ Teach First/ or anyone who wasn't sure what they wanted to do after uni, but was put off by intense graduate schemes in areas such as law or banking.