What is a Teach First Ambassador?

There is a joke in Teach First which says that the only way to leave Teach First is to die. The simple answer to what a Teach First Ambassador is, is to say that it is what you automatically become when you finish the program. Put another way, a Teach First Ambassador is simply a graduate of the Teach First program.

But what does being an ambassador actually mean? Once you have finished the two year program:

• You are forever on the Teach First directory (on the community website). 
• As the name implies you are supposed to represent the program and go forth to the world and encourage others to join (though you don't have any contractual obligation to). 
• You will get invited to events.
• They will not stop emailing you. 
• Teach First teachers will ask favours of you if you leave teaching or not.
• You can sneak in to PwC via the secret backdoor.  
• If you leave the classroom you will likely be dragged back into school at some point. 
• You are expected to make a lifetime commitment to ending educational inequality. 
• You will get continuing support from Teach First to help you make a difference in education 
• You can stay plugged into the movement. 
• You can become an associate tutor at Summer Institute. 

I suspect that the reason you are here is that you are wondering what to write on the application form about the question that asks what you plan to do when you become an ambassador. Here are a few suggestions to help you: 

• Think about how you will contribute to ending educational inequality after your two years. 
• If you stay in education you could be a mentor to Teach First participants. 
• You join the Teach First action network both as a participant and then as an ambassador. 
• Consider launching a social enterprise around educational inequality 
• Become a school governor.
• Commit to teaching in a Teach First eligible school. 

Hopefully this post has helped you understand exactly what an ambassador is and exactly what it entails. This should help you with your application to the Leadership Development Program (LDP). If, however, you are looking this up on Google after having done the LDP you should have paid more attention at Summer Institute!