[mzdijsh3]

I'm delighted to have got through but can I give one major piece of advice to applicants sifting through these types of threads for intel: everything you need to know about the assessment centre, Teach First will tell you.

There are no surprises or bombshells waiting for you. Teach First are likely to be the most approachable, efficient graduate recruiters you'll encounter and there are ample opportunities to prepare yourself for the A/C.

I attended one of their Apply First events beforehand, and that is an excellent way to break the ice with the staff there and get a feel for what they're after.

These threads often just knock people into an unnecessary state of panic. Every anecdote relating to the A/C is only as good as the person giving that anecdote.

It really is a straightforward process. TF is a values-based outfit, if you meet their competencies, they will have you. Just prepare your lesson and anticipate the structure of the interview.

[nosnibor]

(Original post by laura.a.c265)
As you feel guilty.......please can we have all your hints and tips??!!!

Of course!

So, as you will all know, the day is in three parts: first you'll have your interview, then you'll do the case study with some other participants, and finally you'll do your seven minute lessons to two assessors.

The interview:

As this is first in the day (at least it was for everyone at my assessment day) make sure you're well prepared for this because you'll go almost straight into it. TeachFirst are very good at preparing you for this because they tell you to focus on the competencies - that is, after all, what they're looking for. However, a few things I would add:

- make sure you know a lot about TeachFirst itself and be clear why you want to do it. A thorough read of the website will prepare you for this. Don't underestimate this part of the interview, they're not just going to ask 'how long will you be teaching for?', they'll expect you to have a good knowledge of the programme and your options once you complete it.

- don't expect all the questions to be based around the competencies. This is where I made a mistake. I had expected the questions to follow a format of 'ok, give me an example of a time where you showed humility, respect and empathy'. There will be some other, unexpected questions in there. Obviously I'm not going to tell you what they are, but the important thing is to be relaxed and think about all the questions, then answer them how you think is best, not to panic and think 'oh god, which competency are they looking for here?'. Do a quick Google for typical interview questions and just think about how you might answer them.

- you can choose to not answer a question and go back to it later. This will NOT put you at a disadvantage and it may help you to use this technique occasionally in your interview. I did this and was a bit worried that it might affect me negatively, but it didn't!

- your interviewer will have read your application form, but will not have it in front of him/her, so they won't be going through it with you during the interview. Just something to bear in mind.

The case study:

- I really can't tell you anything about this, because honestly, anything I do say would put you at a DISADVANTAGE. You don't want to know anything more than necessary because then you would act in a different way and jeopardise your chances of getting in. But trust me, it's not very difficult, and you will cope with it just fine.

- only things to say is: be yourself. If you're a natural leader, yes, be the leader. If you're not, that's ok: you don't have to take charge of the group to get onto the programme. If you are a sympathetic person, show this by listening carefully to other people in your group and treating what they say tactfully. Mostly importantly is just to work well in your team.

- oh, and if you've been chatting to everyone beforehand, that can sometimes help, as if they end up in your group you'll feel a bit more at ease because you already know them (sort of!)

- one last thing: you will be asked to analyse your performance afterwards, so do pay attention to everything that happens in the case study, how you perform, how you fitted into the group, good and bad things the group did, etc.

The lesson:

- the lesson is really fun! Don't worry that you'll freak out and not be able to treat the assessors like children (as I did!) They are very good at acting like kids, and trust me, once that timer starts, you will just immediately see them as children, which makes teaching your lesson so much easier.

- don't try to do too much. Seven minutes isn't that long, and it's best to do one activity well rather than three badly, no matter how innovative or exciting they are.

- mostly importantly, RELAX and BE YOURSELF.

- again, you will be asked to assess your performance afterwards, so be aware of how much the 'children' are enjoying your lesson and how it is progressing while you teach it.


At the end of the day, like the poster above me so rightly said, TeachFirst prepare you extremely well for the day. But as is the case with any interview, relax and be flexible, be prepared to change all your plans last minute if you can see something going wrong.

Also, you will have A GREAT DAY as most of your time will just be spent chilling with all the other interviewees, who will be really cool and interesting people, just like yourself.

Good luck everyone!

[Crania]

I've just been reading through the questions in my SKA for English. I find some of the questions very challenging. How are other people finding the SKA?

[nosnibor]

(Original post by Crania)
I've just been reading through the questions in my SKA for English. I find some of the questions very challenging. How are other people finding the SKA?

Trying to do it now and yeah, finding it more difficult than I thought it would. I thought it would just be knowledge-based questions, like 'do you know what a compound sentence is and could you teach it to a 13 year old?' etc. But I'm sure we'll both get through, looks like you just have to spend a bit of time on it!

[Becca]

(Original post by heymelon)
Hey,

Does anyone know how long it takes for SKA results? Also, did anyone else think it was harder than they thought it would be; I thought it would just be as sort of "what is an apostrophe" sort of thing!?! I wasn't really sure if I was answering the questions properly, but I just want to know now!

It will take a while, as your SKA is reviewed by a tutor from one of the partner universities and you will receive detailed feedback, not really results as such.

With the SKA, just be honest about your abilities, don't be afraid to do bullet points or something! It's a self-assessment.

[ChocolateButton]

(Original post by Crania)
Thank you very much. I'm chuffed! I'm doing English.

I'm quite surprised because while I thought the day went well overall, I still didn't expect to get in. I also thought that I slipped up on quite a few of the questions during the interview. The lesson and group stage went very well though.

Also, people really shouldn't be nervous about the Assessment Centre day itself. They day goes very quickly, everyone is extremely nice, it's in a lovely room in a very cool part of London and they provide lunch. I found all of the other applicants so friendly as well, we just sat around chatting for most of the day. That is something to remember, while you're there all day (I was there from 10am until c. 4pm) but I was only being assessed for about two of those six hours. The rest of the time is just sitting around and chatting so it's quite a relaxing day. Don't worry!

Well congratulations! I was quite surprised too, especially as I didn't feel very good after the interview. Whoever on here said they thought questions would be along the lines 'Tel me where you showed humility', I was the same and prepared for that and then had to think a bit about my answers in the interview. I even asked her to repeat a question as I was so nervous.
But I agree with you, overall it was quite fun and relaxed.

So I guess we are going to meet at the summer institute next year

(Original post by heymelon)
ChocolateButton - You will be fine doing it during semester time, it's only a few questions and you have 10 days - the main problem I had was not not having enough time but simply not knowing how to answer the questions, I found it quite hard to understand what sort of things I was suppose to include in each answer and how they wanted me to respond. Either way - I suppose I will just have to wait and see!

Great, thanks for that. I hope you got it all sorted by now?
I am waiting for the translations of my shcool transcripts and then they will hopefully accept my German grades as equivalents to GCSEs. If not I have to do extra testing etc. I just really want to get started with the SKA now!


Does anyone know when we can expect to know where we will be going? In the contract it said they would start looking from April on I think, is that the experience of people in the past?

[Becca]

(Original post by ChocolateButton)

Does anyone know when we can expect to know where we will be going? In the contract it said they would start looking from April on I think, is that the experience of people in the past?

I got accepted in November, found out my region around April/May but then didn't get my school placement til a week before summer institute! It really does depend, other people found out at very different times.

[nosnibor]

(Original post by Crania)
I've just been reading through the questions in my SKA for English. I find some of the questions very challenging. How are other people finding the SKA?

Hiya, thought I'd quote you again! (this message is also to anyone else out there who can help with the SKA!)

I'm struggling a bit with my SKA, particularly with the final question. My subject knowledge seems to be lacking in a lot of the authors they specify, and I can't see what kind of plan I'll make to address this in time. Help!!

I'm also totally lost on question 2, the one about language development in the classroom. I just don't know what it's asking for!! oh god!

[Becca]

(Original post by nosnibor)
Hiya, thought I'd quote you again! (this message is also to anyone else out there who can help with the SKA!)

I'm struggling a bit with my SKA, particularly with the final question. My subject knowledge seems to be lacking in a lot of the authors they specify, and I can't see what kind of plan I'll make to address this in time. Help!!

I'm also totally lost on question 2, the one about language development in the classroom. I just don't know what it's asking for!! oh god!

Surely the plan would be to read up on any areas you know you are lacking in! Bullet point what you will do, when you will do it by and research sources that you will use to help you and put those in the plan. It doesn't matter that you are lacking subject knowledge, what matters is what you plan to do about it.

[NazZ]

(Original post by star2899)
Hey Naz,

Running out of time is not fatal on its own, as long as it's mentioned in the evaluative brief (can't remember what they call it right now!). This also happened to me last yr but the reason for failing was likely to have been the lack of interaction last yr.

You just need to do a simple lesson on the title of your subject choice. This simple lesson should be structured though and interactive, i.e bilateral, engaging both sides, student and teacher.

Hey Star, sorry for the super late reply- thank you.

I thought it would be useful to get the feedback again from the recruitment advisor closer to the day.
Might be a useful thing to do for the others who are re-applying.

[Joscelyn21]

Hi Everyone,

I had my assessment centre yesterday for primary teaching. I thought it went really well but I'm worried now as I haven't heard back and it seems as though a lot of people hear the next day if they're successful. Any successful applicants - how long was it before you heard back from the assessment centre. I want this job so much!

Good luck to everyone with their applications

xx

[Becca]

(Original post by Joscelyn21)
Hi Everyone,

I had my assessment centre yesterday for primary teaching. I thought it went really well but I'm worried now as I haven't heard back and it seems as though a lot of people hear the next day if they're successful. Any successful applicants - how long was it before you heard back from the assessment centre. I want this job so much!

Good luck to everyone with their applications

xx

It can be up to 5 working days.

[laura.a.c265]

Yes! I heard today that I have an AC on 28th Sept

I have applied for RE - does anyone else have theirs on the same day?

Laura

[-spook-]

(Original post by Joscelyn21)
Hi Everyone,

I had my assessment centre yesterday for primary teaching. I thought it went really well but I'm worried now as I haven't heard back and it seems as though a lot of people hear the next day if they're successful. Any successful applicants - how long was it before you heard back from the assessment centre. I want this job so much!

Good luck to everyone with their applications

xx

I believed the next day thing as well lol, I had my AC on the 18th and thought I didn't get in as I didn't hear back on friday, lo and behold I got a call today! I wouldn't worry about it, good luck

[Crania]

(Original post by Joscelyn21)
Hi Everyone,

I had my assessment centre yesterday for primary teaching. I thought it went really well but I'm worried now as I haven't heard back and it seems as though a lot of people hear the next day if they're successful. Any successful applicants - how long was it before you heard back from the assessment centre. I want this job so much!

Good luck to everyone with their applications

xx

I heard two days later that I was given a conditional offer. I've heard of other people who were accepted several days after the AC so don't worry as it depends on the circumstances how long they take to get back to you.

Good luck!

[laura.a.c265]

Hi,

Just a quick question for anyone who has already done the Summer Institute:

When it says the 6 weeks is 'residential' is that the full 6 weeks or just the last 3 at Warwick Uni?

If it is the full 6 weeks...where is the West Midlands accomodation and did anyone in your cohort live 'out' during the regional institute?

Many Thanks,

Laura

[Becca]

(Original post by laura.a.c265)
Hi,

Just a quick question for anyone who has already done the Summer Institute:

When it says the 6 weeks is 'residential' is that the full 6 weeks or just the last 3 at Warwick Uni?

If it is the full 6 weeks...where is the West Midlands accomodation and did anyone in your cohort live 'out' during the regional institute?

Many Thanks,

Laura

The WM accomm is at Birmingham City Uni in Perry Barr iirc. I don't think they let you "live out" though...you'd have to email and ask.

[laura.a.c265]

(Original post by Becca)
The WM accomm is at Birmingham City Uni in Perry Barr iirc. I don't think they let you "live out" though...you'd have to email and ask.

Becca,

Thanks for the quick response. I just wanted to be clued up before I go to the AC (even though I may not even get in!)

If I do, my daughter will move in with my parents in Coventry so I just wondered how close I would be

Laura

[Becca]

(Original post by laura.a.c265)
Becca,

Thanks for the quick response. I just wanted to be clued up before I go to the AC (even though I may not even get in!)

If I do, my daughter will move in with my parents in Coventry so I just wondered how close I would be

Laura

Ahh you have a daughter...I didn't know that! DEFINITELY email them and ask because I'm not sure. Nobody in my WM cohort had a baby, although I knew someone in the London cohort that did but I'm not sure what she did at regional. I'm from Cumbria btw, whereabouts are you?

[laura.a.c265]

(Original post by Becca)
Ahh you have a daughter...I didn't know that! DEFINITELY email them and ask because I'm not sure. Nobody in my WM cohort had a baby, although I knew someone in the London cohort that did but I'm not sure what she did at regional. I'm from Cumbria btw, whereabouts are you?

I live in Brampton nr Carlisle - I'm based here with my job, but originally from Coventry.

I told TF on my application and on the phone that I have a daughter (although not a baby now; she will be starting secondary school the year I hope to start TF!) and they didn't seem to think it was a problem as I have family in the WM, and they live 5 mins from Warwick Uni. I don't mind living in for the whole 6 weeks as long as I get some free time to see her

Do you work a 7 day week at the SI?

Sorry for all the questions!

Laura