Do you know I had a FANTASTIC day at school today ...

[roisin]

I had four lessons today, none of them were 'easy', but all went extremely well. The children responded fantastically, did some wonderful work, and learned stuff, and I actually felt like I was making a difference for once.

But I've come home very upset - been in tears this evening - and am ready to jack the whole thing in. Why? Because of SMT.

How do we manage to gather together so many complete plonkers in one place, and pay them so much, for being such pillocks?

Thank you - I just needed to get that off my chest.

sorry but whats SMT?

Senior Management Team - the 'experts' who run the place

Nightmare. SMT can be the bane of many a school and many a teacher. Anything in particular this time?

BTW, glad you had a good day actually teaching - the bit that really counts!

Hmmmm SMT. Can be good or terrible. What a) timewasting thing did they ask you to do, or b)blame you for some foul child's behaviour?

SMT in our school are quite nice really (sorry )

My problem is I have lots of experience in industry and business, and I don't appreciate that "things are different in education". The fact that I make suggestions as to how things could be changed and improved, is simply my naive assumptions because I haven't spent enough time in schools to realise what a fantastic school I work at

It's so fantastic that Ofsted only just fell short of failing us last term - we snuck through by the skin of our teeth; our CVA is dreadful, as are our results.

I think I need to just keep my head down and ignore most of what they do/say: it seems to be the survival policy of choice of most staff in our place.

Roisin - when the school I worked at did go into special measures, the way the Head and SMT reaction was bizarre. It was like they were in denial, putting out letter to aprents and assemblies to pupils saying it was a blip, OFSTED would reassess quickly and they'd be fine and see the school for what it was shortly. The fact that the school failed on all accounts - inclduing management - seemed to have completely bypassed them.

In my last school SMT were a bunch of complete power hungry bitches (and I am mincing my words here!!) they hounded people out if they were not part of the correct social group; and as I was not a many-times divorced, constantly hung-over, common, party animal I did not fit in .

The morale in the school was pants, standards are falling madly, despite a team of teachers, TAs, and SNAs working their socks off to meet the demands of SMT (planning in weekly, assessments of the children on a twice termly basis, moderation of each others marking, observations every half term....)

I am now at a new school, thank goodness, the SMT have huge respect as they act as part of the team rather than the leaders of it. They are there to support rather than dictate and are genuinely lovely ladies. We are not expected to show planning (because we are qualified teachers and dont have to prove it ) and we are given respect and responsibility

There is such a thing as a nice SMT, unfortunately they are few and far between

They sound very narrow minded, I came from industry, and I think some schools need a good kick up the bum about this.

They should be using you, rather than criticising you.

The only difference between industry and school I have found, is: There is no money, ever in schools, any change takes a lifetime, and it is much much more stressful than working in industry

If someone asks me to do something at school (or anywhere else for that matter) then I either:
a) Say yes, and then do it within the agreed timescale, or
b) Say no, I'm not able to do that at the present time and state the reasons why.

At our school it appears the preferred response in almost all case is:
c) Say yes, and then do nothing at all.

Because that's so positive and it makes everybody feel much happier

APPARENTLY

That sounds awful Nell, weren't the unions any good?

If SMT gets too ambitious in our school the unions start kicking off, and usually get their way.

It does amke a difference with a good SMT. Ours ahve their failings like everyone else, but they are all compassionate and kind (to staff), and treat us as adults. The school also gets outstanding results, so they don't have to bullly us

Hmmm recognise that response....

The unions were brought in, several times and they did resolve the situation, I even had a case for constructive dismissal after I was passed over for a full time position (was on a part time contract but was temporarily full time) and an NQT who had studied at the school and was proven to be mediocre was employed over me (But never mind, I was only Lit Manager!!!!!) However, I did not fit into the social status they wanted, the NQT did

I decided life was too short to argue with them and left with my head held high for a better job, with better pay, in a better school!

The SMT are relatively new (only in place for 4 terms so far) so I am glad I am out but am also keeping a close eye on the place to see what happens