Teach First Participant President Jason Arthur shares his top tips on leading in the classroom.
Teach First Week 2011
For one week from 7 - 11 March, more than 30 successful figures from business, politics, journalism and the world of entertainment will be given the chance to experience life as a teacher in Teach First partner schools across the country.
Guest teachers, who include Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow and Sainsbury's CEO Justin King, will teach one lesson on a subject of their choice. They will be matched with a Teach First participant at the chosen school, who will work with them to plan their lesson in advance.
"Teach First is an excellent charity providing opportunities for graduates to become role models of the future. Teach First Week gives people like me the chance to really appreciate and bring to the fore the importance of their role in some of the most challenging circumstances in society by teaching one of their lessons, something I am looking forward to doing."
Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham & Aylesford and Teach First Week Guest Teacher 2011
"It was a challenge but a hugely enjoyable one. I'd encourage others to take part. It's an enriching experience."
Huw Edwards, Newsreader and Teach First Week Guest Teacher 2010
Teach First Week gives guest teachers the chance to share their passion and expertise in their chosen subject with a class of pupils, inspiring them to want to learn more. It is also an opportunity for the guest teachers to talk about their own career, encouraging the pupils to think about what they might want to do in the future, acting as a role model to help raise their aspirations.
Teach First hopes that, one they have experienced life in a school in challenging circumstances, the guest teachers will gain a greater understanding of the need to close the attainment gap and will commit to raising the profile of Teach First in the future.
Classroom Updates
Before Teach First Week 2011 officially kicks off on Monday 7 March we were lucky enough to have an early guest teacher in the form of Wates Group CEO Paul Drechsler. Paul visited Walworth Academy in London on 2 March and delivered a lesson to Year 10 Business Studies students on the importance of a good education in business, giving his insight into how a company's annual report is compiled and what it contains.
Teach First participant, Fiona Docherty, whose class was taught by Paul gave the following comments about the experience:
"It was great for the pupils to see how the financial theory they had learnt was used in a real company and how Paul himself used these mathematical tools. Paul was an engaging teacher and the pupils really took something from the lesson. The lesson really inspired and engaged the pupils to become the next business leaders of the future."
