Teachers striking on 5th October!

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

We've had a letter home today saying that some teachers in ds's school will be on strike on 5th October. Luckily neither of our ds's classes are affected.

I thought that public sector workers were being balloted over striking on 30th November about the proposal to change their pensions again, but I kew nothing about the 5th October.

Anybody else affected by this?

Just poking my nose in to say that I am in Wales and my kids' school is closed on the 5th too. If I could be arsed I'd get up and find the letter where it details the union. I fully support teachers' right to strike personally. Every single teacher my children have had in their school has been hardworking, caring, approachable and very good at their jobs.

Can I also say, as an English Graduate who worked as a writer for many years, it is fucking ridiculous to assume that people who swear are inarticulate. Irvine Welsh isn't considered unarticulate. Neither is Charlie Brooker. Just grabbing another book from my shelves and Brett Easton Ellis is swearing like a trooper in American Psycho. The inarticulate twat.

Oh and YummyHoney 'I have a life, unlike the prolific posters on here' - the dying gasp of forumites the world over when they are losing an argument.

I like MN, however, I post whilst I search for robust teaching materials. Sadly, DC's teachers do not provide these; the issued resources are content-light. This is not the teachers' fault - it's down to a weak NC.

Feenie

All I am saying is that I manage to find better and more challenging English and Maths resources than issued by the school.

No, you didn't. You said it wasn't the fault of the teachers, it was the fault of a weak NC!

That's what I ed over

Materials are issued by school, in compliance with NC.

I don't get many resources from NC areas, I make them myself or find them online from others. In fact, bar the textbooks we use for set tests, I don't think I use anything not made by a person iyswim

School issues materials in compliance with the NC?

mrz, feenie et al

Okay, maybe "compliance" was not apposite here. How's this? "Materials are issued by school, to follow and support the NC"

When I ask DCs teachers for more rigrous classwork/homework, I get this response "these are the materials we use to meet the syllabus requiremements of the NC for "x" subject in "x" school year.

Is that ok?

No, it's not okay. As in, it's not a good answer from the teachers.

If you want more challenging materials for maths, try the nrich website. Your school response sounds a bit weird, although it's not clear why you were making the request.

How glad I am to teach a subject that is not bound by the NC!

What do you teach, Norfolk?

RE, we follow our locally agreed syllabus which has input from QCA in terms of what they'd like to cover but RE teachnically does not have a universal course of study from the NC.

In practice most schools cover the same areas but each area has the right to move away if needed.

Does that make sense?

Ahh, yes. I don't know why I didn't guess! We also follow our locally agreed syllabus.

Ah I forgot you're a fellow RE teacher, by far the most interesting subject to teach (in my 'umble opinion )

Hi noblegiraffe

That is a good website. Do you know of an equivalent one for English, please?

Those of you slagging off teachers; how do you imagine we ever stopped putting children up chimneys? why should they not defend their terms and conditions? This 'country can't afford it' line is great; the debt could be paid off by collecting the unpaid evaded tax. But that doesn't have the desired effect of demonising and undermining the entire public sector.

tectime can't remember if you're looking for literacy or English but these are a couple recommended by fellow teachers:

KS1/2 - www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/

KS3-5 - www.morelearning.net/

It's only a couple of posters, thankfully - and they have made themselves look a bit silly on this thread.

Have missed YummyHoney's apology to noblegiraffe re Maths teachers, wonder where it is?

tectime that is a total cop out ... as long as the school covers the requirements of the NC (which are very broad) they are free to develop their curriculum to suit the needs of their pupils

Thank you Norfolk

Not sure how old your child is tectime but
www.teachitprimary.co.uk/
www.teachit.co.uk/index.asp?CurrMenu=52
you need to register but there are lots of free ideas and resources

"It's only a couple of posters, thankfully - and they have made themselves look a bit silly on this thread.

aHave missed YummyHoney's apology to noblegiraffe re Maths teachers, wonder where it is?"

Feenie, I am the other poster that you did not mention. Why not be open about it and point me out?

I was crediting you with enough intelligence to work it out yourself.