Teach First OFFICIAL Application / Assessment Centre thread

I'm moving back from Lancaster to Hampshire on July 9th so I might try and wait before submitting - though I'm not ready to submit just yet as I want my answers to be perfect, and they're currently over the word limit. As it is, I've already been down South twice this month.

I didn't realise they held assessment centres in June - I thought they were July onwards.

I went to an application workshop in March/April and they mentioned something about recruiters getting in touch before we submit - has anyone here heard from a recruiter for their uni?

Reply 588

laura.a.c265

5

Original post by r13

I've just been invited to an assessment centre on the 25th too.. can't believe it's only two weeks away!

Jadey-xo, I don't think you can select a subject on the form - I think (but I could be wrong) that they allocate you to a subject when they make you an offer.

Jadey you don't select a subject. Once they have offered you a place a t the assesment centre they send you an email with lesson titles on exactly a week before. There is one lesson for each subject and if you want to do primary you choose any subject you want. The lesson is 7 minutes to two recruiters acting as KS3 kids!! Then when TF make you an offer they will choose your subject. I did AC last year with a guy who did a Law degree and wanted English but they made him an offer to teach D+T as he did Graphics A level. When you apply to TF you apply to the scheme not for a subject in particular.

It's the same with regions...you can express a preference but they will always place you in the area/subject where you are needed most.

R13...I will see you on 25th, can't believe it's so soon!!!!!!!!

To the person who asked if they are flexible - I couldn't make the date I was offered last year as I'm in the RAF and was away on exercise but I e mailed and they changed my date 10 mins later!!

TF are SUPER helpful

Oh, and a recruiter will get in touch before you submit your form if you take a little while. I sent mine 2hrs after I registered so I don't think they had chance this year lol! They also give you a call a couple of days before the AC to see if you are prepared or have any questions.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 589

Having some real trouble with the word limit on the questions!
Also struggling in regards to handing the application in. I'm on holiday for two weeks from 20th-4th so I don't know whether to submit before, during or after! I don't want to submit and be too late but then I don't want them to schedule me for an assessment day (should i be so lucky!) during my holiday! ahhh!
How are people answering this question?
"Please give an example of when you have worked with people who are very different from yourself. We are particularly interested in any charity/teaching/voluntary work you have undertaken. (Please limit to 150 words)"
Do they just want one example? And for us to demonstrate how we meet the qualities they want? Not sure what to say! :s-smilie:

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 590

I think I'm going to talk about my experience at Guides as we have a girl in a wheelchair and I'd previously not been around wheelchair users before. I think TF also like it if you throw in some keywords related to humility, respect and empathy.

I'm currently doing an MA and thought about talking about my experience with so many internationals - a lot of postgrad are international at my uni so people on my course and in my flat are different to me. But I think I can get more out of the Guides example...also want to talk about Guides for leadership so hopefully two questions from the same experience isn't too much. :s

Reply 591

Original post by redwood_phoenix

I think I'm going to talk about my experience at Guides as we have a girl in a wheelchair and I'd previously not been around wheelchair users before. I think TF also like it if you throw in some keywords related to humility, respect and empathy.

I'm currently doing an MA and thought about talking about my experience with so many internationals - a lot of postgrad are international at my uni so people on my course and in my flat are different to me. But I think I can get more out of the Guides example...also want to talk about Guides for leadership so hopefully two questions from the same experience isn't too much. :s

Are you going to talk about how you interacted with them then? Like how you showed respect, empathy ect? Im wanting to talk about my work with people with autism but I don't want to look patronising toward them if you understand what I mean?
I was going to say when I first went to uni, but alas, the question specifies someone you have 'worked' with.

Reply 592

Yeah, I'm going to say something along the line of though I'm careful about which games I run (due to her limited mobility) I generally watch and see what she can do and only offer help if she looks like she needs it (as I would with the other girls). For example with crafty activities she struggles with really fine motor things like putting on a little sticker or something and though I know this I don't go 'oh poor kid will have trouble with this, I'll do it for her' I let her ask for help. So by letting her take the lead and being independent I'm showing respect and empathy.

I think talking about your work with autism could be good - I guess it all just depends how we word it. And I guess trying to demonstrate humility, respect and empathy is sort of about not being patronising. They're asking about people who are very different to us so I expect they'd be interested in this kind of thing.

Reply 593

Application sent off for Secondary English (hopefully!). Now it's just a waiting game. Nerves have set in already.

Reply 594

Good luck!

I spent the day visiting my old school and observing some lessons. I'm thinking of applying for cover/study supervisor positions to gain some experience. Although not a TF school (so I expect behaviour challenges will be different and perhaps a few more issues), it's given me a good insight into school from an adult perspective and hasn't frightened me off!

Doing some more tweaking of my application - I've rewritten a few of my answers and got them to 160 - need to edit a few words out still!

Reply 595

username500176

Does anyone know how recent the examples you use in your answers have to be? I will be 22 when I apply next year but I want to talk about something I did at 16. Thanks x

Reply 596

rainbow drops

17

TF rang me and I missed the call :frown:

but the recruiter left me a really nice answerphone message offering support and asking me to call back for advice etc. They seem so lovely!

Seeing as I'm still on the competencies and am holding off on sending my application for a bit, would any lovely person let me know how many contacts for references we have to provide? One or two?

Reply 597

laura.a.c265

5

Original post by rainbow drops

TF rang me and I missed the call :frown:

but the recruiter left me a really nice answerphone message offering support and asking me to call back for advice etc. They seem so lovely!

Seeing as I'm still on the competencies and am holding off on sending my application for a bit, would any lovely person let me know how many contacts for references we have to provide? One or two?

Two. One academic and one other

Reply 598

*~laura~*

Hi everyone,
Hope all your applications and AC prep are going well!
I've got an AC on the 28th for hopefully primary, possibly English - I'm doing a joint degree so it's up to the uni that provides the PGCE whether I'm eligible for primary, which adds to the nerves slightly!

Reply 599