Teach First recruit on a rolling basis and fills it's vacancies as soon as it finds candidates who meet it's competency and academic requirements.

Teach First accepts applications and runs assessment centres throughout the year so it?'s possible that it's requirements for some subjects will be completed well before the application deadline -? another good reason not to delay your application.

Teach First is committed to ensuring that all job applicants are treated fairly and with respect, regardless of any disability.

Teach First welcomes the opportunity to discuss with you any reasonable adjustments required in relation to the selection process. You can email them at [email protected]. Any information you provide at this stage will remain confidential.

If your online application is successful you will be invited to attend an Assessment Centre day.

Each Assessment Centre comprises the following elements, though not necessarily in this order:

Sample teaching lesson and debrief: You will be asked to deliver a pre-prepared seven-minute lesson. The assessors will be looking for you to demonstrate your ability to communicate your topic to pupils in an appropriate and creative manner. Once your lesson is over you will be asked to make a written evaluation of your performance. Provided you have confirmed acceptance of your Assessment Centre date, they will send you all the relevant details for your sample teaching lesson one week before your allocated date.

Case study and debrief: This exercise is designed to test how you think, solve problems, express solutions and interact with other people. This exercise will end with a one-on-one debrief with an assessor, where you will be given the opportunity to evaluate the group and your performance during the lesson.

Competency-based interview: You will have a one-on-one interview with one of Teach First's assessors, focusing on how you can demonstrate it's competencies. You will also have the chance to ask any questions you may have.

If you are successful at an assessment centre you will be made a conditional offer for the Teach First Leadership Development Programme. In order to secure this place you will be required to complete a process of enrolment. More information on what this involves will be given to you at the offer stage from their recruitment team, but will include:

• Successful completion of a Subject Knowledge Audit (SKA): The SKA allows Teach First to validate your suitability to teach the subject to which you have been allocated, and identify any areas of subject knowledge that you need to develop further before you begin the programme. If you do not successfully complete your SKA, your offer to the programme will be withdrawn.
• Successful completion of QTS Professional Skills Tests: All applicants for initial teacher training courses which begin in 2014/15 and beyond are required to have passed QTS Professional Skills Tests in numeracy and literacy before starting their course. This is to ensure all teachers are competent in numeracy and literacy, regardless of their specialism.
• Return of a satisfactory reference: During your application form you will nominate one referee for Teach First to contact in order to collect a reference for you. If you are still studying for an undergraduate degree this will need to be an academic reference, if you have already graduated it can be an academic or employer reference. Teach First will only contact your nominated referee if you are successful at receiving a conditional offer to the Leadership Development Programme.

In the year leading up to joining Teach First, you will also be provided with information to help you prepare for the Leadership Development Programme. This includes:

• Pre-Summer Institute Work
• School observation experience (SOE), readings and reflections which will support the development of your reflective abilities ? a vital skill for the Leadership Development Programme.
• Access to the Teach First online Community: Get all the latest information and updates from Teach First, sign up to events, share opportunities, write blogs and start getting involved with the community.

Teach First fill their requirements for some subject vacancies very early; therefore they recommend that you apply as soon as possible. Check the website for the most up-to-date information on subject availability. Teach First recruit on a rolling basis and fill their vacancies as soon as they find those candidates that meet their competency and academic requirements.

Teach First is able to defer a limited number of offers from one recruitment year to the next.

The majority of applicants apply when they are in their final year of university or after they have graduated.

A small number of people do apply in their penultimate year of university with a view to defer. Deferred places are assessed on a case by case basis as availability in deferred places are in shorter numbers.

Yes, Teach First operates a reserve system. If the subject/s you are eligible to teach have reached capacity for one cohort?s intake and you are successful at your Teach First Assessment Centre you will be made a reserve offer. If an opportunity does not subsequently arise within that cohort you will be offered a place in the next cohort.

Teach First do not ask that candidate have any specific teaching experience before applying to the programme.

Academic performance is one of the areas Teach First assess at application stage. Their assessment days are extremely competitive and therefore only candidates that are exceptional in many areas will be considered.

In some circumstances they are able to accept a 2.2 degree. All applicants are looked at holistically so if you feel you have other attributes that contribute to your application but do not fall within the criteria asked for then you are urged to apply and outline these attributes on the application form. Please also note any extenuating circumstances on the application form.

Teach First are unable to accept applications from candidates who have a 3rd degree or candidates who do not meet the GCSE requirements.

If you have accepted a place on the PGCE course this year then you are not able to apply for the Teach First Leadership Development Programme.

Please refer to the Teaching Agency website for more information on the different routes into teaching at: education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching.

Teach First want to attract the very best graduates onto it's Leadership Development Programme as it believes that diversity can increase the impact of teachers within the schools that they work with.

Teach First is committed to ensuring that all job applicants are treated fairly and with respect, irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, race, religion/belief or disability.

Teach First has no restrictions on the age of applicants. It is designed for people who wish to teach for a minimum of two years but are open-minded about future career options and would like to gain valuable and useful leadership skills they can then transfer elsewhere after Teach First.

Yes, Teach First operates a reserve system. If the subject/s you are eligible to teach have reached capacity for one cohort?s intake and you are successful at your Teach First Assessment Centre you will be made a reserve offer. If an opportunity does not subsequently arise within that cohort you will be offered a place in the next cohort.

If you have a criminal record, you should disclose this in the box provided when completing the application for the programme. Should you be made a conditional offer to join the programme, further CRB checks will be made and you should highlight your conviction at the offer stage.

Throughout your two years, you will take part in their unique Leadership Development Programme. The Leadership Development Programme is designed to develop your leadership abilities so that you can have a profound impact on raising the achievement, access and aspirations of all pupils, and thus develop as a leader. It combines theory and practice of effective leadership and is designed to maximise your impact towards addressing educational disadvantage, while preparing you to be a leader in any sector.