Teach First secondary offer when I want to do primary.

Hi,

I currently have two teaching offers. One is for a Primary PGCE at university, the other is a secondary subject with Teach First.

I want to teach primary and was planning on declining if Teach First didn't offer the subject, but they put me in touch with a Teach First ambassador who did secondary with Teach First and now teaches Primary, and are very happy they did it that way. It's kind of pushing me towards the secondary subject but I keep wondering if Teach First is worth committing two years to an age group I don't want to teach in the long run?

It is also annoying becuase I had a secondary pgce offer last year but declined because I knew it wasn't for me so I kind of feel like taking the Teach First offer would almost be a step backwards because I could have done secondary last year if I wanted to...

Any advice/ thoughts would be great. I've had my TF offer for 6 days and you need to complete some work within 10 days so I really need to decide soon!

Don't touch Teach First Secondary if your ambition is to teach Primary. It will be a massive barrier to you ever securing a Primary job.

Unless I've misread that completely, I don't see the point in doing a secondary course when you want to teach primary.

That is what I thought. I have heard and read about secondary teachers changing to primary but it is difficult. However, the Teach First grad that I spoke to did secondary in the same subject and managed to get the first primary job she applied for. I know it is individual and different for each person but she was so positive and happy that she did secondary and believes it has made her a better teacher.

Maybe post a thread on the TES forum to try and get an idea how many have actually switched from Secondary to Primary? I don't mean to devalue the experience of the person you've spoken to, but they are just one person, and would you really want to base a career path on the experience of one person?

I completely get why you're attracted to the Teach First offer, hell, I'd be considering it just for the fees paid, but you have to think long term on this one.

It is not unusual to receive 100 applications if you advertise a Primary position. A secondary trained teacher would not make the interview shortlist. Don't make it difficult for yourself when you have already secured a much more appropriate alternative training route.

Hi,

I currently have two teaching offers. One is for a Primary PGCE at university, the other is a secondary subject with Teach First.

I want to teach primary and was planning on declining if Teach First didn't offer the subject, but they put me in touch with a Teach First ambassador who did secondary with Teach First and now teaches Primary, and are very happy they did it that way. It's kind of pushing me towards the secondary subject but I keep wondering if Teach First is worth committing two years to an age group I don't want to teach in the long run?

It is also annoying becuase I had a secondary pgce offer last year but declined because I knew it wasn't for me so I kind of feel like taking the Teach First offer would almost be a step backwards because I could have done secondary last year if I wanted to...

Any advice/ thoughts would be great. I've had my TF offer for 6 days and you need to complete some work within 10 days so I really need to decide soon!

I feel the same. I have had secondary experience in the past and enjoyed it but I cannot see myself in the long run being a secondary teacher.

I think I'm just relucant to decline because it's Teach First - an amazing programme and mission, the course fees are paid, you're paid as you train etc.

Hi there
I'm currently experiencing the same dilemma with teach first and I could do with some advice. If you don't mind me asking - did you ask if you could defer? Or did you decline the offer? And what did they say to this? I accepted an offer of secondary when I want to teach primary (as i was told it was easy to switch) but I'm worried they won't let me defer now.

Hi there
I'm currently experiencing the same dilemma with teach first and I could do with some advice. If you don't mind me asking - did you ask if you could defer? Or did you decline the offer? And what did they say to this? I accepted an offer of secondary when I want to teach primary (as i was told it was easy to switch) but I'm worried they won't let me defer now.

I fully endorse the TF mission and wanted to be a part of that.

Hi,

I currently have two teaching offers. One is for a Primary PGCE at university, the other is a secondary subject with Teach First.

I want to teach primary and was planning on declining if Teach First didn't offer the subject, but they put me in touch with a Teach First ambassador who did secondary with Teach First and now teaches Primary, and are very happy they did it that way. It's kind of pushing me towards the secondary subject but I keep wondering if Teach First is worth committing two years to an age group I don't want to teach in the long run?

It is also annoying becuase I had a secondary pgce offer last year but declined because I knew it wasn't for me so I kind of feel like taking the Teach First offer would almost be a step backwards because I could have done secondary last year if I wanted to...

Any advice/ thoughts would be great. I've had my TF offer for 6 days and you need to complete some work within 10 days so I really need to decide soon!

What mission is that? The impression I got from attending their sales pitch was that it was about tolerating working in a sh1t school for two years before getting a "proper" job as a management consultant. Teaching, after all, is basically man management. Sorry to be so cynical but I was thoroughly unimpressed. I don't think kids were mentioned once.

The mission to get good teachers into struggling schools. I don't know what assessment you went to, but the corporate sponsors and the possibility of going into other fields after the two years was only mentioned once. The rest of the day was about determining which of had the potential to become great teachers. And look, whether or not TF have an agenda to get their trainees to take work with their corporate sponsors, it is not a requirement and you have the choice. I want to be a teacher, and regardless of the route, I will be a teacher, and always will be.