Charity wants to challenge the impossible
IT’S recruited more than 160 teachers for schools in low income communities and helped improve the educational outcomes of more than 9,000 pupils in Wales – and now Teach First Cymru wants to continue building on this success.
Since being established in 2013, the charity has found talented and dedicated individuals who can make a difference in the classroom and provided the training and support to get them there.
And for September 2017, Teach First is now looking to continue on this and to recruit science and maths teachers in Wales – working with schools based in Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Merthyr Tydfil.
This month has seen the South Wales Echo team up with Teach First to launch the Challenge the Impossible campaign which aims to highlight the deep inequality in Welsh and English education and encourage more people to take up teaching.
Teach First said only one in three children from poorer families in Wales achieve five good GCSEs at A* to C including maths and English or Welsh, compared to two in three of their wealthier peers
And just 14.1% of disadvantaged young people from Wales progress to higher education, compared to 44.1% of their wealthier peers.
The campaign has looked to shed fresh light on the hurdles faced by poorer children at every stage of their lives and find more talented people to recognise the problem, see themselves as the solution and make a step into the classroom.
During the campaign, previous recruits of Teach First have spoken with us about the success they have enjoyed, including Bleddyn Penny who after starting his training with the charity in June 2016, is now teaching English at Fitzalan High School in Cardiff. He said: “I really, really engaged with the challenge of it. I enjoy getting chucked into the deep end of things.
“I enjoyed learning from a more practical approach and this was definitely hands on.”
And Georgina Charles who took part in Teach First’s Leadership Development Programme in 2014 and is now enjoying a leadership role as deputy head of the English department at Willows High School in Tremorfa said: “The reason that Teach First was so useful was because there was such a focus on leadership in the classroom.”
The former head teacher of Tonypandy Community College, Kirsty Retallick also spoke about how Teach First helped the college in working its way from being in special measures to receiving a glowing Estyn report. She said: “Teach First staff have been amazing – a breath of fresh air. Recruitment is difficult but it’s given us access to highly-qualified, dedicated individuals who want to be part of that changing agenda. They are incredibly wellsupported and able to make progress.”
A Teach First spokesman said: “By working together with the South Wales Echo to highlight the teachers and schools making the difference, we hope to have inspired readers to make a step themselves.
“If you want to build on their successes and be part of this great movement to challenge the status quo then apply to Teach First.”
A full Q&A about what Teach First is, the qualifications needed to apply for the programme and what you can expect can be found at www. walesonline.co.uk
Persuaded teaching could be your next challenge this year? The Teach First Leadership Development Programme is a salaried, twoyear programme that gives you real responsibility and the chance to make a difference to children’s lives. You’ll gain a fully-funded qualification and the key skills and personal qualities to make a real impact. For September 2017 Teach First is looking for maths and science teachers in Wales. Find out more at www.teachfirst.org.uk/ challenge-impossible-ldp into the classroom