Christmas nights out when a teaching student

[Bear5]

Hi
Just looking for a little bit of advice.Ive started a placement as part of my course in a local primary school. Im out on a few nights out over Christmas and am worried i will bump into parents or other teachers when ive been drinking.
I dont want to look unprofessional so was thinking maybe i shouldn't go or not drink at all as it may be frowned upon.
Some opinions on this would be great? TIA

Try to go out a little less local, or don't get falling over drunk.
And don't vomit on any parents.

Your local primary but multiple nights out? Sounds odd.

Being seen out in a licensed premise with a glass of wine in your hand = fine.
Being seen shitfaced drunk, puking in the gutter while trying to poledance to the macarena up a telegraph pole = possibly one to be avoided.

Ask your mentor for some advice but really it's a line you need to be capable of drawing for yourself for the future - or make sure you never live near a school you're working at! My kids' school is fairly unusual in that there are a lot of teaching staff who do live in-catchment or very close to catchment and actually as a parent I've run into teachers in the supermarket, in the street, park and on a couple of occasions out for pub lunches - it's never been more than a "oh hello" and off we go our separate ways.

I see loads of parents that I work with when out and about - drinking in pubs etc - it's normally a polite quick hello and that's it.

They don't care if I'm drunk / whatever. If they do none have ever complained to the school.
Obviously you don't want to be falling over the place and being sick!

But if they're out drinking too then you could judge them all the same way you think they'll be judging you.

Honestly, just go out and have fun! You probably won't even see any of them :-)

Do not approach when drunk! I get a bit giddy and I start going over!

Avoid getting stotious
Make sure your badge is off (I am always amazed at people who spend the night drinking while still wearing their ID
Relax and have a nice time. Unless you start stripping or puking I can’t see why anyone would care

Be careful drinking on a school night too. School with a sore head is an absolute nightmare. Learnt that lesson pretty darn quick. Only have a glass at the weekend now

Just don't get shitfaced. You cannot put your life on hold. Even if you went out of the area, there's still a possibility that you will bump into a parent.

We've had parents in restaurants miles from home. Parents behind the bar in another country. Out in a club turn around and there's another parent. Took an unplanned train journey with a couple of mates. Next station a school family got on. Sat on a beach drinking fizz, and yup parent not far from us.

It happens. The ones that have problems need to give themselves a wobble and remember that school staff have lives too.

I don't think it's going to be a problem. Have a great time.

What you need to understand and as a trainee teacher, your training organisation should have told you, is that you need to be seen to conform to the required standards for teachers, which does include your conduct in public.
There is nothing to fear from having a drink but getting drunk in public is not a good idea. The most difficult situation for you to control is the "private" party where you get included in risky photos which then find their way onto Facebook etc. There is a guarantee that if that happens somebody will see it and will ensure that the photo gets back to the school.
Unfortunately no matter how accepting your headteacher is that anything was innocent fun, that is not how it will be perceived and they will be forced to take action. That action could easily end up with your career as a teacher being permanently cut short so be reasonable and sensible in what you do not only at Christmas but other parties and especially on holiday.

Welcome to teaching! I'm sure that your uni & mentor have advised you suitably. The Teacher Standards do apply.

Is your social media locked down regarding privacy? Have you amended your name to be less searchable? Be very careful about what photos you share.

And remember that parents are adults who drink too. Mutual discretion

Yeah, I think you need to be careful not to bump into the parents who may think drinking/getting drunk is a sin as a teacher. (But they don't tend to drink , so chances are low anyway.)
Unless you get really drunk in a posh restaurant or a bar and make fool of yourself, normal parents would think you as just having good times.

I went on a date with a new boyfriend as a very young teacher. We were about an hour and a half away from where we lived and happily snogging the face off each other, briefly looked up and there was one of the families from school- plus children

You can't put your life on hold but you do need to be very careful about what you are photographed doing.

You would also be wise to completely avoid talking about school and especially pupils in any scenario- restaurant, hairdressers', taxi, etc. You never know who is someone's aunt or uncle.

In public- it's always 'a school in X county', if pressed for the name, you love it, it's a great place to work.

@spaghettipeppers Oh my god that's hilarious! Did the kids notice.

PP are right you have a right to a normal social life. I often see DC's teachers out and about and I always leave them in peace and don't think twice about what they're up to. I imagine a few of them like a good few drinks on a night out - it's none of my business. Unless I saw them brawling in the street or asleep at the bus stop an hour before school begins I really couldn't care less!