Shoddy displays, staff seemingly lacking in energy, very little work on display but 86%A-C would this put you off a school.

[Morosky]

We have been tonight to view a school for dd, it has a good reputation, the children seemed happy there and results are way above national average.

But both dp and I left very unimpressed, the classrooms were either tired or sterile because they were empty with one or 2 exceptions. The staff seemed tired and in one case overly defensive.

As a teacher mysel I know the spin and effort that goes into an open day so part of me is thinking if this is them doing their best for show what must it be like for the rest of they year.

Why do very oversubscribed schools have to keep on touting for business? I don't really understand.

And why are state schools treated as 'businesses', with all the PR etc involved. Surely they are there first and foremost to educate. I can understand it more with the private sector, they are out to make money from the whole exercise after all.

Yes buzz of enthusiasm is what I was looking for, Of course displays are not everything but on an open day you have to make a judgement based on what you see.

As I said before ,I teach in a school with no need to self promote but a pride in what we do makes us present ourselves at our best. What I saw just did not match up with what I was expecting, dp also felt the same and said so before I gave my opinion.

mimmum feedback is personal but sometimes a student needs to see what do I have to do to get a C grade , or an A. I don't include negative comments on the display but brief positive statements explaining the grade. I dont just have A work in display but I do teach the top sets so much of it is that level.

I know some independent acadenic schools have totally abandoned display work wishing to create a university style atmosphere. But this was not about no display or not having much out. It was about the fact that what was there in a number of cases was old, torn, faded and very untidy. This coupled with a few teachers who seemed jaded and uninterested, a few who seemed overly apologetic and negative and others who just mumbled nonsense was quite worrying.

Maybe I just expected too much, as I said dd loved it which does count for a lot.

I am off for a bit, having moaned about other tired teachers I need a nap as today has left me shattered.

They may not need to 'tout for business' but they should be bubbling over with enthusiasm!

I don't really see it as touting for business, I just have a pride in what I do and want that to come over. I spend 11 hours a day in my classroom - I therefore don't want it to look shoddy. I also think that by presenting myself and my environment well I send the message that what happens in my room matters and your work ( and by extension you) matter.

11 hours a DAY?

In at 7 leave at 6, I am lucky that I rarely have to leave my room. My tutor group were laughing at me today as I was dusting when they came in from lunch, I do see it as an extension of myself, a second home almost.

morovsky

you need to stop that.
you must be new.
11 hours is obsessive

some of the best teachers I have ever seen have had rooms like shit holes.

I have been teaching for about 7 years, I work hard during the week so I have weekends and holidays free. Many of my colleagues do the same for similar reasons.

I am not saying you have to have a good room to be a good teacher, you could also be a crap teacher but with a beautiful room. But this was not one room it was almost the whole school on an open day.

Anyway my bed is calling or I will be one seriously crap teacher tomorrow and I have a full day,

I am a bloody good teacher and this year I don't even HAVE a room, which is crap.

7 until 6 is silly tbh. I think I know who you are Morosky and I think that length of time at work is unsustainable and doesn't necessarily make you a better teacher. What about work/life balance? Not judging - just trying to save you!!

bed at 8pm/

I'm really interested in this issue. WE have been to three schools, one comprehensive, one state grammar (in the top 50 academically) and one independent (also very academic).

The comprehensive did an evening visit day but we also went during a normal day; the indie did a Saturday open day; the grammar, lots of visits during a normal working week.

The grammar gave the strong impression that it wasn't a priority to show people round or engage them. Which in many ways is commendable: they're saying a. our results speak for themselves, b. we're busy teaching and c. we don't actually need you, since we're very oversubscribed and competitive.

But you know what, it REALLY pissed me off. The point was by making the assumption that all we cared about was the results, we didn't actually get to speak to ANY of the teachers. And since teachers (and teaching) are, for me, by far the most important bit of the school, I found it incredibly irritating.

The local comp (which is no slouch academically, given the diversity of the population) was so much more interested in talking to parents AND prospective pupils. And that is what I am going to want from them throughout the time my kid is there, not a kind of paternalistic 'we know best, just let us get on with it' approach.

We have decided, after MUCH angst, that the local comprehensive school will be best for our son. Even though he is obviously a GENIUS and could walk the entrance exam with his eyes closed.

lol vulpusina, it was our open evening tonight, and with the thread in mind, I smiled, sparkled and chatted with every parent and child in sight.

I am not sat with my feet in a footspa and a bottle of wine.