Question 1. I work at a secondary school in London or Greater Manchester – how can my school get involved?
Answer. Your school can get involved by contacting the Teach First Training and Support Team. You can reach Training and Support by emailing teachers@teachfirst.org.uk, or by calling 020 7718 5584.  Read on for more information about getting involved.

Question 2. What are the schools like?
Answer. Teach First will place participants in London and Greater Manchester secondary schools that have either one-third of pupils eligible for Free School Meals, are not in special measures, or are in families 14-27 of the DfES’s Families of Schools. These schools will have head teachers interested in participating in the programme who have agreed to provide the level of support required by Teach First.  

Question 3. Where are the schools?
Answer. In London there are 72 schools involved in 2005-2006.  These schools are located in boroughs all over Greater London including Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Croydon, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Westminster. Teach First is not limited to these boroughs, however, and is open to working with other boroughs in Greater London.

Question 4. How will I be matched up with a school?
Answer. Before placement in a school, Teach First will ask you to specify your preferences, in terms of location in London or Greater Manchester and type of school. Although we will endeavour to place participants in schools fitting your preferences, the final decision will be made based on a range of criteria including which schools need teachers with your subject speciality and which schools can best support you.

Question 5. Can I choose my own school?
Answer. No, you cannot choose your own school. Teach First places participants in schools that are the best match when keeping all parties in mind: the schools, the participants and the pupils. 

Question 6. When will I found out about my placement school?
Answer. You will find out about your placement school by the start of school in September. In 2005 we placed all participants before the Summer Institute and would hope to be able to do the same in future years. In rare cases a participant may not know their placement school until the week before school begins. Regardless of when placement occurs, Teach First ensures that participants have the resources they need to begin a successful year teaching. 

Question 7. Will I have other Teach First participants in my school?
Answer. Yes. We place an average of four participants per school to encourage a sense of ‘esprit de corps’ and to ensure that all Teach First participants have the support of their peers, as part of the network of support available to them.

Question 8. Will I be in the same school and teaching the same subject for the two years?
Answer. Yes. Except in rare circumstances, it is expected that you will be in the same school for the full two years, alongside other Teach First participants. The subjects you teach will largely be dependent upon the needs of the school in which you are placed, the needs of the head teacher, and your prior experience.

Question 9. Can I change schools during my two-year placement?
Answer. Because of the importance of continuity in pupils’ education, it would be extremely unlikely that you would be placed in a different school mid-year. If you are at any time unhappy with your school or the classes that you are teaching, you will work within the context of your school and Teach First support structures to improve your situation.

Question 10. Can I be placed in a primary school with Teach First?
Answer. No. At this time Teach First only trains and placed teachers for secondary schools, however Teach First is investigating primary education as an option for the future. As part of gaining QTS you will spend one day observing in a primary school during your first year.

Question 11. Can I do Teach First in other areas of the UK or abroad?
Answer. Teach First has been operating in London for three years and will from September 2006 have 50 participants in Greater Manchester. Over the coming years, we hope to be able to expand and move to other cities, which would benefit from the programme. Although we at Teach First could not support you in teaching in areas outside of London and Greater Manchester at the moment, you might want to consider contacting the Training and Development Agency for Schools (www.tda.gov.uk) who will be able to give you information about teaching in England and Wales. The telephone number for the Teaching Information Line is 0845 6000991.