Dame Ellen MacArthur went back to school to teach Year 7 pupils at Kingsford Community School in Beckton, East London, on Tuesday March 6, as a prelude to charity Teach First’s annual Teach First Week.

Ellen Macarthur at Kingsford Community School

Ellen MacArthur teaching at the Kingsford Community School



The record-breaking solo yachtswoman is among leading figures from the worlds of business, politics, media and entertainment, swapping the day job for the school corridors to become a teacher for the day.

The week runs from 12 to 16 March 2012 and, this year, forms part of the charity’s tenth anniversary celebrations. Other guest teachers include Marks and Spencer Chairman, Robert Swannell, TV personality, Adrian Chiles, Editor of The Independent, Chris Blackhurst and football legend, Gary McAllister, will join dozens of other public figures going back to school to inspire pupils to strive for more.

With a brief to take on the challenge of inspiring a classroom of pupils, the guest teachers will step out of their professional comfort zones and, for a short time, experience the excitement, trepidation, thrill and also the rewards of teaching.

MacArthur has chosen to teach Design and Technology, drawing on experiences from her professional life. Seven years on from breaking the single-handed, non-stop around-the-world record, she is now at the helm of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.  Her charity is calling for a re-design of products and services to address current challenges. It champions a circular economy over the traditional linear ‘take-make-dispose’ model of consumption, with waste becoming food for another cycle or process rather than thrown away.

MacArthur said: “I’m delighted to be part of the Teach First Week and raising awareness of an issue close to my heart.

“The work we do at the Foundation is all about inspiring young people to re-think the future; the way we make things, the way we disassemble things.  In a world of finite resources the most important available to us are our creativity and imagination.  But it takes inspirational teachers – and opportunity for all – to unlock that potential.”

MacArthur will be supported by experienced Teach First teacher, Liam Isaac.  Isaac will be on hand to help with lesson planning and provide ‘teacher tips’ to ensure the lessons make as great an impact as possible. Hejoined Teach First’s 2010 cohort and now teaches Design and Technology at Kingsford Community School, having graduated from the University of Bath with a degree in Architecture.

Teach First works in partnership with schools and other organisations to break the link between low family income and poor educational attainment, which is stronger in the UK than in almost any other developed country. It does this by recruiting and training high calibre, passionate graduates to become effective, inspirational teachers in schools in challenging circumstances.

Over 2050 Teach First teachers are currently working in schools to raise the attainment, aspiration and access to opportunity of their pupils across England, including nearly 900 who have decided to stay in teaching beyond the two year programme. A further 700, who decided not stay on in the classroom after the two years, remain committed addressing educational disadvantage from their careers outside of the classroom.

Teach First founder and CEO Brett Wigdortz said: “I am thrilled that a record number of guest teachers have agreed to part of Teach First Week 2012.

“It acknowledges the urgent need for us all, regardless of our day job, to play a part in eradicating educational disadvantage, and ensuring that a generation of young people from low-socio economic backgrounds have the same chances in life as their wealthier peers.

“We hope that the outstanding commitment these guest teachers have shown continues beyond the week, and they go on inspiring young people to believe that no profession is beyond their grasp.”

For further information see Teach First or visit the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.