Mark Pawsey MP taught a Business Studies lesson to Year 10 pupils at Avon Valley School in Rugby on Friday 11th March. He joined leading figures from the worlds of business, politics, media and entertainment to swap the House of Commons for the Common Room by becoming teachers for the day, as part of independent charity Teach First’s annual Teach First Week.
Other guest teachers included Sainsbury’s Chief Executive Justin King, Chair of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission Trevor Phillips, Channel 4 journalist Jon Snow and iconic Slade frontman Noddy Holder, who joined dozens of other public figures by going back to school to inspire pupils to strive for more across the country.
The guest teachers all worked in schools in challenging circumstances where at least half the pupils came from the poorest homes. They worked with teachers who have been recruited and trained by Teach First, an independent charity that works to ensure that all children, regardless of their family income, have access to effective, inspirational teaching.
With a brief to take on the challenge of inspiring a classroom of pupils, the guest teachers stepped out of their professional comfort zones to briefly experience the thrill, excitement, fear, trepidation and massive rewards of teaching.
While the guest teachers chose the subject area they wished to cover, with many drawing on their professional lives to form the basis of their lessons, they were also supported by experienced Teach First teachers. Teach First teacher Edward Salton, who has been teaching Business Studies at Avon Valley School since 2010, was on hand to help Mark Pawsey with lesson planning and providing ‘teacher tips’ to help ensure his lesson makes as great an impact as possible.
There are currently over 960 Teach First participants working to raise the attainment, aspiration and access to opportunity of pupils attending schools in challenging circumstances, and a further 1100 Teach First ambassadors who are committed to influencing systematic change in education both from inside and outside the classroom. This powerful movement is working to break the link between low family income and poor educational attainment, a link which is stronger in the UK than in almost any other developed country.
Teach First founder and CEO Brett Wigdortz said: “By taking up the challenge of teaching a lesson in a school in challenging circumstances these guest speakers will bring much needed attention to what is one of the most destructive and pervasive problems in the UK today, that of educational disadvantage. Studies show that socio-economic status still determines whether children in the UK fulfill their potential, we think this is a deplorable situation that has to be urgently addressed.
“The time, effort and commitment that Teach First, these guest teachers and the many others in society are investing into young people across the country to raise their aspiration, achievement and access to opportunity can break the link between low parental income and poor educational achievement and enable all pupils unlock their potential.”
After his lesson Mark said:
“I found the lesson very valuable in terms of understanding the hard work and preparation that goes into teaching. Despite being the graveyard slot on a Friday afternoon, I was really impressed with the students, many of whom had great business ideas of their own. I hope that some members of the class will be inspired to set up their own businesses and become really successful in the future”.