Teach First 2014 - Official Thread!

OP

Original post by WhiteTea

I would be happy to look over your answers.

Would you do the same for me? :biggrin:

Reply 22

Original post by jeffercake

Would you do the same for me? :biggrin:

Of course! Anyone :smile:

Reply 23

OP

Original post by WhiteTea

Of course! Anyone :smile:

Awesome. Did you have someone from Teach First ring you up and help you answer the questions properly? What sort of advice did they give? I have some situations that I'm not sure whether they fit the question or not, will they advise me on that?

Reply 24

edchem

Original post by WhiteTea

In terms of answers, they don't want to hear about you overcoming things like your driving test or exams (although I know you did have mitigating circumstances it's probably best to still use another example)

They also like to make sure you have a really good knowledge of the company so that answer has to be really thorough. If you decide to apply again I would be happy to look over your answers.

Thanks, I might send you a copy of the questions I sent this year round and maybe you could give some advice.

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Reply 25

Original post by edchem

Thanks, I might send you a copy of the questions I sent this year round and maybe you could give some advice.

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Yes, I'd be more than happy to have a look. PM me if you want and I can give you my email

Reply 26

Original post by jeffercake

Awesome. Did you have someone from Teach First ring you up and help you answer the questions properly? What sort of advice did they give? I have some situations that I'm not sure whether they fit the question or not, will they advise me on that?

They didn't actually because I had chatted to them quite a lot at uni and I knew my uni recruiter so could just informally talk to them when I wanted.

I'm pretty sure they will advise on whether or not they are suitable. Generally most things are suitable if they're not just academic/things everyone has to do like exams.

Also, use the STAR technique. Situation, Task, Action and Result and structure all your questions that way, they like that! Put most emphasis on your actions.

Reply 27

alexmagpie

SKA done (nervous it isn't good enough though), QTS skills tests booked for June 17th after my uni exams are finished, reference hopefully done.

Phew!

Reply 28

CinnamonC

Original post by alexmagpie

SKA done (nervous it isn't good enough though), QTS skills tests booked for June 17th after my uni exams are finished, reference hopefully done.

Phew!

Same here! (though booked for a different date) How are you finding the practice questions?

Reply 29

alexmagpie

Original post by CinnamonC

Same here! (though booked for a different date) How are you finding the practice questions?

I haven't actually tried any yet, I have lots of uni exams at the moment! How are they for you?

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Reply 30

Original post by alexmagpie

SKA done (nervous it isn't good enough though), QTS skills tests booked for June 17th after my uni exams are finished, reference hopefully done.

Phew!

If your ska isn't good enough I know people that have had theirs sent back to edit and essentially make better.

Good luck for qts. For the Maths if you struggle with it the first 16 or so questions are quite tight timing. English you just need to know basic grammar.
I found English really hard at gcse and only did the four practice qts tests and passed. So don't worry!!

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Reply 31

CinnamonC

Original post by alexmagpie

I haven't actually tried any yet, I have lots of uni exams at the moment! How are they for you?

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Personally I'm finding the Maths ones a real struggle, but the English ones are fine (which I suppose they should be, as I'll be teaching English!)
I know what you mean about time constraints, I'm working full time at the moment and so am out of the house between 7am and 8pm.....not helpful for revising Maths, which I've always been terrible at anyway....when have you booked yours for?

Reply 32

Original post by WhiteTea

Hi everyone! I am joining Teach First in 2014 for Primary (I already have a place because I applied deferred this year) but am able to help if anyone needs any on the assessment centre etc. and how it was.

What was the application form like? I know everyone says its all on the competencies but I'm getting a bit nervous about what kinda stuff. Do I have to have an example of every competency for the form? I'm just hoping my competencies are good enough cos I'm not quite there grade wise, im like a high 2:2 after my dismal exams in january (I do have mitigating circumstances with the uni and plan on fully explaining it on the form).

I'm hoping to also teach primary since I'm currently doing some mentoring with a children's charity and getting some school expereince and I'm *pretty* sure that that's what I want to do :rolleyes:

Also, how personal can the application form get? I went to my uni career service to talk over it (I'm still waiting for my recruiter to get back to me about meeting) and we went over the competencies etc and for resilience, she mentioned my coping of a bereavement, would be a good example of being resilient but I don't want it to be overly personal?

Thanks :smile:

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 33

Original post by jeffercake

Hi everyone!
Applications for Teach First 2014 open in less than four weeks so I thought having our own separate thread away from this year's cohort would be a good idea!

I have two exams to get through before I apply, but I'm hoping to get my application opened and most of it filled in asap.

I have plenty of school experience, but I am worried about the question about leadership skills and a role where I had responsibility or led a team. I'm going to struggle for that one. I hear you get a phone call after you open your application and someone from Teach First will help you out with it and give you some guidance.

I also need to stay close to home because I have a family, so I will be putting down Yorkshire (preferably Doncaster) and adding my circumstances. Crossing my fingers that if I get in, then I get somewhere close so we don't have to move.

If I don't get in, I will be applying for a PGCE :smile:

Anyway, introduce yourself if you're thinking about applying!

Justine x

I thank you for giving me another tool of procrastination during exams! Despite having 3 exams to get through, I can't help but think that the application date is drawing nearer and nearer.
I'm the opposite of you, I have quite a lot of examples of leadership and I have no idea which one i should be using! Still waiting for my recruiter to get back to me aswell, I was hoping to speak to her as to whether the examples are suitable!
Do you have a preference over primary or secondary?
Seonaid :smile:

Reply 34

Original post by fml

What was the application form like? I know everyone says its all on the competencies but I'm getting a bit nervous about what kinda stuff. Do I have to have an example of every competency for the form? I'm just hoping my competencies are good enough cos I'm not quite there grade wise, im like a high 2:2 after my dismal exams in january (I do have mitigating circumstances with the uni and plan on fully explaining it on the form).

I'm hoping to also teach primary since I'm currently doing some mentoring with a children's charity and getting some school expereince and I'm *pretty* sure that that's what I want to do :rolleyes:

Also, how personal can the application form get? I went to my uni career service to talk over it (I'm still waiting for my recruiter to get back to me about meeting) and we went over the competencies etc and for resilience, she mentioned my coping of a bereavement, would be a good example of being resilient but I don't want it to be overly personal?

Thanks :smile:

If you want I can send you a set of the quetsions from last year.

You can put anything you like in teh application form as long as it shows your competencies. They didn't ask all the competencies in the application form but you need to have examples for them.

If you're not sure maybe try and get some work experience in a primary because I know some people who have tried it and decided it wasn't for them.

Are you still predicted a 2:1? Or are you going to come out with a 2:2?

Reply 35

Original post by WhiteTea

If you want I can send you a set of the quetsions from last year.

You can put anything you like in teh application form as long as it shows your competencies. They didn't ask all the competencies in the application form but you need to have examples for them.

If you're not sure maybe try and get some work experience in a primary because I know some people who have tried it and decided it wasn't for them.

Are you still predicted a 2:1? Or are you going to come out with a 2:2?

Yeah that would be great, I'd love just to get an idea of what they were asked so i could mentally prepare myself.

I've already been mentoring in a primary school for the last year so I know I really enjoy working with primary kids, but I have some school experience lined up the week after my exams end to see if I'd enjoy working with them in a classroom experience.

I think grade wise, I'm currently at a 58 (not having done my summer exams) but there has been a rise in my assignments this semester compared to last semester so they would be able to see a progression. In addition, I have got mitigating circumstances with my department (unfortunately passing your exams pitifully means no retakes :frown:

) so when it comes to graduating, they'll review my case again. When i did speak to the recruiter she said that the application team do look at any extenuating circumstances as well so I'm hoping it won't be too much of an issue :/

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Reply 36

OP

Original post by fml

I thank you for giving me another tool of procrastination during exams! Despite having 3 exams to get through, I can't help but think that the application date is drawing nearer and nearer.
I'm the opposite of you, I have quite a lot of examples of leadership and I have no idea which one i should be using! Still waiting for my recruiter to get back to me aswell, I was hoping to speak to her as to whether the examples are suitable!
Do you have a preference over primary or secondary?
Seonaid :smile:

Haha, glad I could be of service :wink:

I have one exam left, thank goodness, this Wednesday, then I concentrate on this!

I'm a mature student, and I've been a stay at home mum (apart from uni) for nearly 11 years, so much of my work experience is from 11+ years ago. It does state on the website that they want recent examples where possible. I'm hoping when I get the phone call that they can help me pick something out from recent school experience, or my role as fundraiser at university recently.
I want to teach secondary English, you?

Also, re using a bereavement to answer a question, I don't think I could do that. My dad died last November and I felt like crap having to put in mitigating circumstances for my Jan exams, as if I was using his death to excuse my grades or something, I'd feel terrible using it on an application form. I think that was disgusting horrible advice from your careers person. :frown:

Reply 37

Original post by jeffercake

Haha, glad I could be of service :wink:

I have one exam left, thank goodness, this Wednesday, then I concentrate on this!

I'm a mature student, and I've been a stay at home mum (apart from uni) for nearly 11 years, so much of my work experience is from 11+ years ago. It does state on the website that they want recent examples where possible. I'm hoping when I get the phone call that they can help me pick something out from recent school experience, or my role as fundraiser at university recently.
I want to teach secondary English, you?

Also, re using a bereavement to answer a question, I don't think I could do that. My dad died last November and I felt like crap having to put in mitigating circumstances for my Jan exams, as if I was using his death to excuse my grades or something, I'd feel terrible using it on an application form. I think that was disgusting horrible advice from your careers person. :frown:

Lucky you, I have 3 in a space of a week but next week it should all be over for me :biggrin:

I'm hoping to get into primary because I've been doing a mentoring project with primary and some tutoring with secondary students as well. And I've enjoyed the primary stuff a lot more.

I pretty much had the same thing happen to me as well but I do think mitigating circumstances are useful especially as a way of letting the department know (and it really affect my grades) but I hardly want to make a big deal out of it and wondered what other people thought as well. This is why it would be helpful if my recruiter replied so I'd at least know!

Reply 38

OP