Carla’s inspiration for teaching
After volunteering as a tutor for social venture charity, Carla decided to join Teach First as a trainee at a secondary school in London.
Carla was the first in her family to go to university and she always knew she wanted to help pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds reach their educational goals. We spoke about what inspired her to become a teacher.
'I wanted to be part of the solution'
Team Up’s vision of tackling educational inequality through inspirational role models stood out to me, and I wanted to join them in being part of the solution to this ever-growing problem. I had always had a passion for education and the transformative effect it can have on people’s lives, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Similar to the founder of Team Up, Sharla Duncan, my brother and I are the first in my family to go to university, and I was keen to assist others to likewise realise their academic ambitions.
My experience volunteering with Team Up was the single most significant factor that prompted my decision to apply for the Teach First Training Programme. Despite having always intended to enter into the teaching profession, I lacked the experiential knowledge that demonstrated to me the pressing need for more individuals like myself to get involved in working to improve the current education system.
An opportunity to make a difference
The support that Team Up provided me throughout both programmes cannot be overstated. I had the opportunity to be assessed by my programme manager, a Teach First ambassador, who invested a lot of time in giving me detailed feedback on my performance and letting me know how I might improve the way I delivered my sessions in the future. It was through this feedback that I first became aware of the Teach First Training Programme, after she recommended to me that I apply.
I am most looking forward to having the opportunity to spend each day working with young people, knowing that the work I am doing is making a difference to their lives. Tutoring with Team Up gave me a great taste of the impact I am capable of making as a teacher, and I look forward to being able to expand my impact through Teach First.
Looking for a rewarding career and the chance to make a difference? Apply for the Training Programme today.