Teach First OFFICIAL Application / Assessment Centre thread

Don't be too worried Laura...I thought I had really stuffed up my lesson but I got an offer on Fri (AC was Monday). When was your AC?

Becca...Yes TF basically said the same thing - my circumstances are on file and I don't want London which should help, so hopefully I'll know my region by November. We do need to apply for Secondary schools by Oct, but hopefully they will understand why we've had to apply late.

Although we won't know where within the region we will be till April/May so I'll have to go for somewhere central and commute!!

Hey Laura! I think I was in your case study group on Monday!

I failed my Science SKA in May because I was told my answers weren't clear enough and I wouldn't have enough time to complete my proposed action plan in the month before the Summer Institute (which is fair enough, I was doing my finals and a month isn't very long to get up to scratch again in all three sciences plus some astronomy and geology). They offered me Primary instead for 2013 but I really want to teach at secondary level so I reapplied first chance I got and I've now got an offer to teach English in 2013 with the option of retaking the Science SKA later in the year!

So what I'd recommend to anyone else applying or considering applying is that you should a) be prepared to be offered a subject that isn't necessarily your first choice and b) apply earlier in the cycle to give yourself enough time for them to process your SKA and allow you to make changes. It's possible (though rare, makes me proud ) to fail at this stage no matter how well you do at the assessment centre.

Oh wow! That's terrifying!! So just as I think I have it in the bag.....

Why have they offered you English then? Didn't you say your degree was Science?

Do they phone or email to tell you the outcome of the AC? x

I remember I thought the SKA was going to be some sort of test with right or wrong answers, but it's not.

It basically asks you to evaluate your subject knowledge in relation to the curriculum and find your strengths and weaknesses. Then you have to describe how you plan to improve your weaknesses and give a time scale for that plan.

You basically have to do a fair bit of reading up on the national curriculum in your subject area and find solutions for plugging gaps in your knowledge - could be through observations, reading, looking for resources on TES.co.uk etc etc.

Again, I am happy to look over SKAs/answer questions if people want to PM them to me.

Hi all,
just got an offer to go to the AC.
What should I expect? I read the website but some things are vague. How do they assess their 8 values? Do they ask you questions and then you have to show you embody these values with your answers?
How many people are there? Is any of the activities done with other applicants? Or is it always you with them?

Is the AC the place where the real selection is made? Or was the online application the real selection?

I would welcome tips please!!

Thanks all!

just a quick question about dress for the AC - I'm assuming most men wore suits - I was just wondering about us ladies - to suit or not to suit - that is the question??

I wore a trouser suit, but I remember there were people just wearing a smart blouse and trousers or a smart dress with a jacket.

Hello,

I've just been offered an assessment centre - very nervous as I don't think I have enough time to prepare!

I just wanted to query, in the application form i didn't state a preference for Primary or Secondary, so am I right in thinking that when they send me my lesson topic it will become clear which one I'm going for (if that makes sense)?

Majorly worried about the lesson as it seems that most people trip up on this!

Thanks x