LJMU and Teach First

25 February 2009

Teach First attracts, selects, trains, places and supports top graduates to work in challenging inner city schools. It is a unique route into teaching, backed by the DCSF, TDA and all of the major head teachers.

LJMU now encompasses Teach First within its portfolio of initial teacher training (ITT) routes. Although LJMU is in its first year working with Teach First, the majority of staff working on the programme have extensive experience in working in ITT. There are 18 Teach First Northwest participants now working in Merseyside schools.

The culture of initial teacher training at LJMU is one of being proactive and we are constantly looking to improve and develop our provision. Recently we placed all our participants in one school, Shorefields Technology College, for their compulsory week long second placement. The two weeks were a huge success - in addition to teaching right across the school, participants had the opportunity to observe each other teach and to team teach.

One participant commented: “Being able to work with such a diversity of students was the most enjoyable experience. It has caused me to raise expectations for my own students as I have been able to observe such good behaviour and determination from students who have come from much more difficult backgrounds than those I teach."