I’m a Primary School Headteacher. Ask me anything!

[RonnieOnion]

This is not a TAAT, but I’ve just read one in AIBU about teachers/wine/holidays and it got me thinking.
What do you really want to know about us? Obviously I can only answer from my own personal experience.

[RonnieOnion]

meiisme
From my DC: how did you become a head teacher and do you shout at the children?

I was a teacher first, then an Assistant Head and then a headteacher. I’m good at my job! I love working with kids. I hardly ever shout (and if I do, I’ll not really angry: it gets attention!). I can do a Hard Stare that makes 500 children stop what they’re doing, though

[FrayedHem]

My DC primary school has an Executive Head, Head of School and Assistant Head. If it's relevant there's about 200 children in the school and it's an Academy.

The rationale is it leaves the Head of School free to deal with day-to-day issues with the Executive taking overall responsibility.

What are your thoughts on that kind of set-up?

[RonnieOnion]

IrenetheQuaint
What do you think of the recentish changes to the National Curriculum/SATs?
I think it is a broken system that they are trying to fix. I wish the government would trust school leaders more.

[MelanieSmooter]

Why do HTs measure children in data rather than individual success?

Why are SEN children viewed as such a nuisance?

Why do so many of you blame parents for a child’s SEN like they chose and nurtured it just for fun?

Is the empathy removal performed before or after you take the job?

[RonnieOnion]

2ducks2ducklings
Absolutely!! 😂

[RonnieOnion]

hellokittymania
If I wanted to volunteer, but I am severely visually impaired, would you take me on? What would you need or want from me?
Yes I’d take you on, as long as you could value to our work and we could add value to you.
As with all volunteers, we’d start with what you could offer and what your skills/interests are and go from there.

[Stinkywink]

Why do you have dress up days?

[RonnieOnion]

Limpopobongo
Do you think there is a strong drive by some parents to gate their child "statemented" and sometimes, do you think they are trying to badge their child when really, they are poor parents?
Yes. Sometimes consciously so they can claim extra money. Usually unconsciously: they can see their child is underachieving and/or badly behaved but can’t see that their actions or lack of boundaries cause it. For example, one parent refuses to work with outside agencies as their advice ‘doesn’t work’: she removed screens for ONE NIGHT and it ‘made them behave even worse’ at bedtime.

[RonnieOnion]

PeterPiperPickedSeaShells
How do teachers write end of year reports? I've just received my son's report & there is so much detail in there! How on earth do teachers find the time to write 30?
Also is it more difficult to write reports for the more "challenging" (not SEN) children?
Thank you!
Blood, sweat and tears! A lot of evening and weekend work. Good reports show how well we know your children.
I encourage my staff to be ‘honest but always kind’ so we don’t hide behind coded phrases. We say it how it is!

[Dramatics]

If the Year 6 teacher was cast as Fagan in the Year 6 Leaver's play and there were 6 or more children who wanted the part, what would you think of the parent who reported this to you?

[RonnieOnion]

hazeyjane
I hate these threads. Such an odd concept.
Me too, I am curious why your experience as a teacher in your school (surely both very individual things) means that you can give us insight into all teachers in all primary schools everywhere!
I really don’t claim to be speaking with the voice of all staff. I put in the OP that I am speaking from personal experience.
Also it makes a difference that I’m a head and not a teacher as teachers are obviously limited to what they can influence: I am in a position where I make decisions and so am fully responsible for the answers I give. I’m aware that I am speaking with a lone head’s voice though, just as we’ve had threads from a lone crematorium technician and a lone funeral director.

[WeAllHaveWings]

Have you see an significant increase over the years of the numbers of perfectly capable NT children not being able to go to the toilet independently because their parents say they "aren't ready yet"? Do you feel like you (or your staff) are having to do the parents job for them and teach the children? How much class time is really wasted on this?

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

If you were a fresh graduate in 2018, would you go into teaching?

[smashhits90s]

What do you really think of the PTA?

[Lndnmummy]

How do I best support school in enforcing behaviour and boundaries without breaking my Yong son’s spirit?

He is in y1 and struggle with focus/listening and keeping his mouth shut. He is a chatterbox. He is on yellow a lot for these behaviours and it is getting him down. I am in close contact with his (exceptional) teacher and always back the school at home. Some of the punishments are harsh (head very shouty) no playtime at all if chatting too much etc. I have never disagreed with School always backed them.
The problem is my son has now zero confidence and says “I know I’m naughty/bad/no good” and he knows he never gets the green all week stickers etc. It breaks my heart.
Can I gently ask the teacher for advise on this without sounding like the precious helicopter parent?

[hazeyjane]

Fair enough, I just find it very peculiar that there have been a rash of these threads. They can only be of a very singular, and obviously very subjective nature, and yet people ask questions as if your experience has any bearing on theirs.

Although I can see from your responses to questions that I would deem as relevant to my experiences of the school one of my children attends, I would be viewed as a difficult parent!

[hazeyjane]

Yes but not every thread sets themselves up as a 'what would you like to know about us?'

Even if it does have a proviso of 'from personal experience only'......

[Limpopobongo]

In my work i sometimes go into schools. It amazes me the contrast. In many state schools little teaching goes on as the teacher is fighting class warfare and trying to enforce behavioral standards.

In other schools, its a different story, no wonder parents want their children in fee paying /catholic/grammar schools..

[Fridakahlofan]

What parenting style do you think has the best outcome?

[GiantPandaAttacks]

Bing Are you a head obsessed with young and new and shiny... or one who acknowledges that older teachers with experience are still an asset to education? (Having seen all the graphs showing how older teachers are being lost at a bonkers rate out of the profession)

Obviously the OP might have a different comment here but from teaching in schools (10yrs) I know that the demand for NQTs is because they’re cheap. Experienced teachers generally are incredible but in a time period when budgets are as low as they are (for example, my own school has recently made the decision to not repair staff only areas from leaking, gaps in walls etc so that student toilets etc can be repaired. Ideally the whole site needs fixing - my walls bend of lent on! - but there is no money). So some SLTs are making the choice to get rid of older staff and take on new who cost less. It’s a shit system but the conservatives are intend upon this course of less and less budget.

[hazeyjane]

For example....Limpopobongo could start a thread, 'I am a **(person that goes into lots of schools a job) - ask me anything'. I am sure their views on lots of things would be really enlightening.

Ignore me. These threads are popular. I am being an arse. Dealing with school (and having to be 'that parent') has tipped me over the edge this week and I am venting here which is wrong. Sorry.

[rainbowstardrops]

I work in a school and I'm a parent, so I'm finding this thread very interesting.
To the posters who are questioning the 'I'm a (whatever) ask me anything you like' threads, just don't open them 🤷🏻‍♀️