What's It For?
A Teach Feast group is a place for you to actively pursue the desire to see yourself, your course and the schools you are in transformed by the gospel. These hubs are CU-based around the UK and are student-led groups in which teaching students like you are supported, equipped, and mobilised to study faithfully as followers of Christ and bear witness to Him on their teaching courses.
- Supported through the challenges of studying and training to be a teacher.
- Equipped to integrate the teacher life with gospel-centred faith.
- Mobilised to witness to the gospel with course mates and those in school.
Let this shape the way you run your local group and remember to communicate it regularly with them.
Leading Well
Leading a group, like all Christian leadership, is about serving others well. It is less about what you can do and more about who you are. The standard is active growth, not perfection. (The characteristics described in the article on ‘handover’ on the website are worth reflecting on throughout your time leading a hub: https://teachingnetwork.uk/leading-a-teach-feast/handover)
You do not need to be an expert in any area of theology or administration to lead a hub, but there are some practical commitments that you make.
You commit to:
- Signing your assent to UCCF’s Doctrinal Basis.
- Organising your hub to meet once a month or once per half term (whichever makes most sense for your course structure).
- Organising one evangelistic event or project each term. This could be as simple as inviting those in your school staff room to a Christmas carols event and planning to eat together beforehand.
- Sending the Teaching Network Co-ordinator prayer points for the hub each term.
- Being in touch with the Teaching Network Co-ordinator for feedback and training once a term, or more often if it would help you.
Support for You
You are not alone in leading your local group. We also make some practical commitments to support and equip you as you lead your Local Teaching Network. We commit to:
- Praying regularly for you and your Teach Feast.
- A call or in-person meeting at least once during term time (from the Teaching Network Co-ordinator or your TN Associate Staff Worker).
- Give you training and listen to feedback from you at least once a term.
- Connect you to other Teach Feast leaders so you can share tips, tricks and encouragements.
Resources
From Teaching Network:
Half-termly email https://teachingnetwork.uk/ | Regular updates and exclusive content from Teaching Network
Frequent updates on Instagram. Most of our latest content, right there and ready to scroll.
Listen to our podcast, UCCF Teaching Network Podcast, available on the site, on iTunes and on Spotify.
‘Leading a Teach Feast Where You Are’ | Articles to help you think through different aspects of organising and running a hub. Including:
- Planning your programme for the year
- Welcome week
- Handover
‘Discuss’ https://teachingnetwork.uk/teachfeasts | Ready-to go group discussions.
We recommend:
https://whatiflearning.com is a great place to start thinking about how your faith can impact your teaching.
Link up with ACT for only £12 per year while you’re a student (£60 once you’re qualified). They offer some great conferences, regular prayer meetings online and online meet ups for subjects, teacher stage and key stage.
Get into TES Magazine. Subscriptions start at £3 for your first quarter. Read articles, analysis and in-depth research on news and the latest teaching techniques and changes.