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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Original poster

What would be the ONE thing that'd have the biggest impact on your teaching?

57 replies

CatKisser · 05/10/2014 18:13

A teacher pal and I were just discussing this.

For me - smaller classes. From 30 to 20, it'd be a dream. Currently I mark 60 English and Maths books almost every night and it's bloody hard going if you're actually going to be constructive. And the time you could give to each child would be brilliant!

For my friend it was more powers to exclude violent/disruptive pupils. (He's secondary.) He's struggling with some fairly outrageous behaviour in a failing school and is feeling very, very down at the moment. I don't necessarily agree with his comment, but it was an interesting discussion.

How about anyone else?

OP posts:
rollonthesummer · 06/10/2014 20:02

Oh-forgot, Free schools like Scandinavia.

Anything I've forgotten!?

Coolas · 06/10/2014 20:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
CatKisser · 06/10/2014 20:04

Ah, yes, more time to observe other teachers would be brilliant. You can learn so much if you go in with an open mind and it's not an official observation.

OP posts:
rollonthesummer · 06/10/2014 20:13

oecdeducationtoday.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/learning-in-rural-china-challenges-for.html

This suggests teachers spend 70% of the time teaching and 30% learning.

FabulousFudge · 06/10/2014 20:20

Blow your nose... or have a wee!

noblegiraffe · 06/10/2014 20:22

Shanghai report here: www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/files/60/report-on-research-into-maths-and-science-teaching-in-the-shanghai-region%202012.pdf

the stuff about 30% teaching time and what they do with the rest is on pages 11-12.

HumphreyCobbler · 06/10/2014 20:29

As a primary teacher it would have been a well designed, large classroom with plenty of storage. I have never taught in a school less than thirty years old and they were all shocking in terms of space and acoustics.

rollonthesummer · 06/10/2014 20:34

That's really interesting.

The whole infrastructure of the area is so different to ours though that it's impossible to take one small aspect and pinch it and expect it to work here.

It sounds like the teachers there have shedloads of time to prepare and mark great lessons, time to observe other teachers in a non-judgemental way (where observations are seen as a positive thing, even an honour, and not something where you feel you're going to be pulled apart afterwards) and support and respect of the parents.

HumphreyCobbler · 06/10/2014 20:41

That report is so interesting, isn't it?

30% contact time??!! Can you IMAGINE?

Coolas · 07/10/2014 06:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Springheeled · 07/10/2014 23:24

More PPA time and more time to observe, plan collaboratively, lesson study.
The ability to go home if PPA time- NOT to be a slacker but to sit in comfort and do it uninterrupted, a little bit of trust would be great.
Proper data given so it can be analysed and acted on. Spend so much time inputting the bloody stuff and none doing anything to act on what it means!!

threepiecesuite · 07/10/2014 23:33

Definitely smaller class sizes. In our school of 1300, lots of kids are just a face in the crowd. It shouldn't be that way.

HalfSpamHalfBrisket · 07/10/2014 23:59

I've visited primary schools in China. The teachers there taught between ~ 8.30 -1pm (with breaks for PE/flag raising ceremony/moral education etc). In the afternoon they were in the faculty offices marking and preparing resources. They couldn't believe we had to plan all our lessons from scratch (they work from textbooks) or have to work at home. They are very keen on collaboration and observation, with teachers regularly critiquing each other.
It was fascinating seeing how another system works.
But, as someone up thread says, it really drove home that you can't divorce individual aspects of an education system from the culture it is sited in.

lecherrs · 08/10/2014 01:59

I would prefer more planning time. I'm now full time and currently teach 24 hours a week (plus tutor time) and that's less because I have time off teaching for my management responsibilities (I'm in FE, it works differently there).

To have time to actually plan my lessons properly or to mark all my A level essays as thoroughly as I would like would be utter luxury!

ArtisanBaps · 08/10/2014 16:50

More ppa time. Proper timely marking and time to follow up with individuals is just as important as outstanding teaching,

feelingdizzy · 08/10/2014 18:23

Smaller class size I have a year 1 class with 27 children, it is relentless. Also ore resources, glue sticks, etc.. Working ICT and more TA support.

ravenAK · 08/10/2014 18:56

An atmosphere of professionalism & trust.

we've just had a homework audit. Fine.

But the spreadsheet the SLG produced & brandished with a triumphant air of 'A-HA! Caught you lazy buggers out this time!' is a complete work of fiction - in at least one instance because the senior colleague concerned couldn't be arsed to go & interview his designated student & just invented the whole thing.

Cue a procession of pissed off teachers brandishing printouts from the school's homework website, copies of planners & kids' books at the beleagured Head, & bad feeling all round.

Totally avoidable.

emberSept · 08/10/2014 19:06

Can I change my mind?

After chatting with colleagues today I would like someone to do a load of stuff for me so I can get on with teaching. I want to delegate ALL detentions and phone calls and displays and letters home etc. I should be able to click a button on sims and it gets automatically sorted for me. I'd be living the dream.

threepiecesuite · 08/10/2014 19:25

emberSept Totally with you on the pointless admin.
How has it become my job to now do 8 duties a day, make sure my classroom and corridors have up to date pupil learning on the walls, hold all detentions, chase up all lates, truancy, missing homeworks (many), behaviour concerns (many), and uniform checks?
Mark all 11 sets of books and homework books each week, with comments and targets?
Create and complete spreadsheets, trackers, tables, graphs and reports constantly?

I get 3 hours a fortnight of PPA. No other free time. When do I get time to teach, let alone plan?

Original poster
CatKisser · 08/10/2014 19:37

More non contact time would make such a difference. As another poster said, proper in-depth, timely feedback is a huge part of outstanding teaching.

OP posts:
rollonthesummer · 08/10/2014 19:52

8 duties a day?!

noblegiraffe · 08/10/2014 19:58

It isn't our job to do pupil displays, data entry, chase absences. You should definitely not be doing those tasks, especially if you are in the NUT or NASUWT.

HumphreyCobbler · 08/10/2014 20:01

An atmosphere of professionalism & trust.

yy to this.

BackforGood · 08/10/2014 20:06

An atmosphere of professionalism & trust

This ^

Basically - a ban on anyone especially career politicians having ANY influence on changes to the role, unless they have been a teacher themselves.
Most teachers I know enjoy the teaching, it's the other paperwork / targets / changes to the curriculum year in, year out / being judged on things that just defy logic / etc.,etc.etc. that kills the job for everybody.

threepiecesuite · 08/10/2014 20:10

Morning duty - 10 mins
End of day duty - 10 mins
and 6 lesson changeover duties - only short, but noted on clipboard and bollocking delivered if you're not at your post at the designated time.

Professionalism and trust... think I vaguely remember them from at least ten years ago.