When battling inequality in the classroom any offer of support is greatly received. However, as an experienced secondary teacher I must take umbrage with Teach First. Whilst the concept is a great idea, it is basically flawed because of ambition.
Teach First claim ‘Each year, a new group of participants joins us and our university partners for six weeks of intensive training before teaching in one of our partner schools for at least two years while completing our Leadership Development Programme. Their training and their passion for educational equality means that they are dedicated to raising the aspirations of the young people in their classrooms.’
That is a great sentiment… really it is and I say it with out a hint of sarcasm. However, when Teach First trainees are delivered to a school with a first class degree and six week training under their belt they are full of enthusiaum. Yet, the real problem lies in that ‘Leadership Development Programme’ where Teach First trainees are told how they are going to revolutionise the teaching profession, they will be the future leaders of the profession. Subsequently, there lay the fundamental problem – leadership deveopment.
From my own experience, Teach First trainees arrive in a school, normally in a deprived part of the country, and have, again in my experience, been a mix of excellent teachers with a great future and those who are not so sure the profession is for them. However, the staff who are very capable teachers are encouraged, as part of the ‘Leadership Development Programme’, to be heads of department, then on to senior leadership as soon as possible.
So, ultimately, what happens, again in my experience, is that if you are lucky you get a great teacher for a year or two at best, beyond that they have moved on to be a head of department at different school with a 50% teaching timetable. Beyond that they señor leadership roles have less and less teaching commitment these days so a great teacher is no longer teaching. Then we are back to needing teaching staff again…
Some may say, if they are good enough… However, it takes away from the fact that Teach First claim to be offering excellent classroom teachers and what they really offer is ambitious teachers who want to move up the ladder as quickly as possible. Really, they offer the heads of the future, in fact, Teach First seem rather proud of their record of developing those in senior leadership. But, what about the learner… I thought it was about them and equality.
Really, what is Teach First’s true purpose? Is it to provide classroom practitioners or future leaders? I only ask as the laster already has its own process known as Future Leaders.
However, despite me complaining about the longevity of Teach First candidates their enthusiasm and commitment to equality is always welcome.
JD
The Equality Blog 