Teach First Assessment Tests, SJT, Recruitment Process & Interviews Online Preparation – 2024
What Is Teach First?
Teach First is a programme in the UK that trains teachers and equips school leaders with the tools necessary to improve the lives of students in the poorest areas of the country. Over the last 20+ years, more than 10,000 graduates have completed the programme and changed the lives of more than a million children.
Graduates who wish to qualify as teachers can participate in this hybrid work/study programme to receive the training they need for the teaching qualification and experience teaching real students at either the secondary or primary level.
Six principles guide the work of the organisation:
We succeed together
We are focused
We are present
We take ownership
We trust each other
We speak up
Working at Teach First
Teach First welcomes applications from experienced professionals seeking career change and recent graduates. Those who work at Teach First enjoy a host of benefits, including:
Paid annual leave and bank holidays
Pension
Private healthcare
Flexible work schedule
Agile working
Employee assistance programme
Wellbeing days
Volunteer days
Career breaks
Employees at Teach First also get to be part of a diverse and inclusive working community with professional support and career growth opportunities.
What Is the Recruitment Process at Teach First?
Online Application
Before you begin your application with Teach First, you’ll want to ensure you satisfy the requirements. Candidates must hold a 2.1 degree or above and meet specific curriculum requirements based on the position they are applying for. These may include a degree in a particular field, relevant A-levels, and a C/ 4 or equivalent in maths, English, and science. Be sure to look into the requirements for your specific programme before you submit an application.
After you’ve confirmed your qualifications, you can submit an online application for the role you are interested in. The application form will ask the standard questions such as contact details, educational history, and previous work experience (if applicable). You can also upload a CV at this time, but be sure to limit the document to two pages and only highlight relevant skills and experience.
You will also answer more personal questions about your preferences and interests when it comes to teaching, including subjects you prefer and the age group that you hope to teach.
Situational Judgment Test (SJT)
As part of the online application process, you will also complete a situational judgment test. This exam will allow the hiring team to learn more about your values and how you work. The test will present several simulated workplace scenarios that depict situations you may encounter as a teacher. You will then read through several response options and choose the most appropriate one for the situation.
Combining this exam with the application will give the hiring team a better idea of which candidates would do well in the programme. It will allow them to shortlist applicants for additional screening and eliminate those not fitting well with the programme.
While you won’t need any specific prior knowledge for this test, having a firm understanding of the Teach First programme and the kind of employee they are looking for will help you select the correct responses to these questions. Therefore, you should research the programme before starting your application.
Application Screening
Once you apply, your application will go through a blind screening process. This means that all personally identifiable information, such as your name and demographic information, will be redacted, and your application will be assessed strictly on qualifications and merit.
Two trained assessors will review your application and determine if you will proceed to the next stage of the pre-employment process, the development centre. Your screening may take up to 15 working days.
Development Centre
Shortlisted applicants will attend a development centre for a full day of assessments. This may be done virtually or in person, but you will receive a phone call with instructions and the ability to ask clarifying questions beforehand.
There will be four activities that you will complete both individually and with other job seekers. Each of these activities is weighted equally, so be sure that you prepare for each of them.
It is important to remember that you will be assessed by everyone present during the entire day, not just by the person leading each exercise. Be sure you are polite to everyone you meet and behave as if you are in an interview during the entire event.
Interview
The first assessment you will encounter is the competency-based interview. This will be a one-on-one conversation where you will answer questions to demonstrate eight competencies:
Self-evaluation
Problem-solving
Leadership
Interaction
Humility, respect, and empathy
Understanding and motivation
Planning and organising
Resilience
Each of these is crucial to your success as a teacher, so the Teach First hiring team wants to ensure you possess these skills from the beginning. Keep these in mind, and be sure to tailor your responses in a way that highlights each of these areas to show the interviewer that you are the right person for the job.
Group Case Study
The development centre day will include other applicants you must work with during the group case study exercise. You will receive a case study that you must review and complete a designated task with the rest of your team. The purpose of this exercise is to see how well you collaborate with others, contribute to the group, and showcase your leadership skills.
While it is essential to contribute individually during this exercise, you want to be careful not to talk over others or disregard others’ ideas. The purpose of this exercise is to see how well you work in a group setting, so the interactions you have are more important than the solution that your team comes up with.
Teaching Episode
Approximately a week before the development centre date, Teach First will send you the title of a presentation you must give during the assessment day. You will need to research this topic thoroughly and prepare a short four-minute presentation as a demonstration of teaching a lesson in school.
While planning for this exercise, remember that your audience for this presentation will be students. It is essential to make the lesson engaging and entertaining as well as educational to keep their attention on the task.
The Teach First assessment team will use this exercise to evaluate your aptitude for researching, planning, and preparing a lesson. They will also examine your communication and presentation skills, both extremely important for teachers. Be prepared to answer questions on the topic after your presentation.
Self-Evaluation Exercises
At two points during the development centre day, you will meet with a Teach First representative one-on-one to discuss your approach to the exercise and your performance. These will occur after the group case study and the teaching episode.
These check-in points are an excellent opportunity to reflect on your performance, where you thought you did well, and where you think you could’ve improved. The ability to self-evaluate and take constructive criticism is vital in the education field.
How to Prepare for the Teach First Assessment?
Teach First seeks individuals who want to make a difference in children’s lives through education. While you don’t have to be qualified as a teacher to apply, you do need to have the required educational background and the skills to succeed in the profession.
The best way to show the recruitment team that you are the best person to join their team is to do well on the various assessments during the pre-employment process.
The first assessment you need to prepare for is the situational judgment test. Doing well on this exam is extremely important because the team will receive these results alongside your application form. That means they use this to determine who gets screened out of the process before it begins. Online resources such as practice tests can help you prepare for this exam.
It is also essential to prepare for all parts of the development centre day. Be sure to research some tips on interviewing well, collaborating with others, and giving presentations.
Above all, be sure that you take the time to research Teach First during your preparation process. You should have a clear understanding of the organisation’s values, the characteristics they look for in an applicant, and what they do for the children they work with. This information will help you through every step of the recruitment process.
