The Sixteenth Republic - waiting on the GCSE results show!

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff. Baiters and bashers can jog on somewhere else.

If you are NOT staff and just have a general education query please start your own thread.

You can play here only if you are a member of one the following groups-

-ABBA - anti bashers and baiting association
-SWAB - school workers against bashers
-SWOT - school workers opposing teacherbashers
-STARS - schoolworkers together against ranting + slurs

Other requirements for staff room entry include the ability to find the staff room, the ability to find a clean mug in the staff room, knowledge of the photocopier codes, and the ability to sniff out where the toffee vodka is hidden.

If you are fed up with cakes and biscuits there is now a cheeseboard on offer

If you come with a stick to beat us with then please do so elsewhere and not in the staffroom

I really feel for NQTs coming in this year. They've had less experience (and I've seen some on twitter argue against even appointing them because of that) but their NQT year is going to look so different too. I wouldn't be able to do any of the additional training, support, team teaching, etc. that I'd normally so. It's unlikely they'll get out to observe senior teachers and definitely not in other settings. I'd imagine the NQT training offer from the LA will be reduced too.

We'll definitely need to keep this in mind and provide clear and comprehensive support into the RQT year, I feel.

frlrl it’s AQA. I’m teaching year 11.

I’ll contact my professional mentor tomorrow.
I have a horrible feeling they are just going to dig their heels in and swear 21 lessons is fine. Then they will admit maybe it should be 20 but it’s too late to change it now.

I’m really gutted, I had such a great feeling about this school. Feels tainted now.

In my experience there are no good schools when it comes to the way staff are treated. There are better or worse ones but at the end of the day you’re an employee and they’ll get the most out of you they can. All the talk about family or community or well-being is mostly bollocks. Stand up for yourself and put yourself first, make good friends who’ll take your side and try not to let it get to you.

I might sound cynical but I’m 17 years in and it’s stood me in good stead! And don’t be afraid to get the hell out of Dodge if things in a school start sliding.

@GravityFalls

In my experience there are no good schools when it comes to the way staff are treated. There are better or worse ones but at the end of the day you’re an employee and they’ll get the most out of you they can. All the talk about family or community or well-being is mostly bollocks. Stand up for yourself and put yourself first, make good friends who’ll take your side and try not to let it get to you.

I might sound cynical but I’m 17 years in and it’s stood me in good stead! And don’t be afraid to get the hell out of Dodge if things in a school start sliding.

I'm 25 years in and totally agree.

@WhenSheWasBad Another physicist here 👋. Also teaching AQA. Are you on Twitter? If so the follow ChatPhysics for lots of great physics advice. I also recommend Matthew Benyohai @ BenyohaiPhysics as he has posted the whole of AQA gcse physics course as ppt and worksheets.

You could start a thread with physics stuff and we will all help out where we can.

I'm OCR but I've just dug out my AQA revision guides (both my placement schools were AQA and practically every other school in the county so I've hung on to them) and it's pretty much the same stuff in a different order.

I second starting a Physics thread on here. Or even a general Science tips one - it's going to be a weird year for all of us without proper practicals.

@Frlrlrubert

I'm OCR but I've just dug out my AQA revision guides (both my placement schools were AQA and practically every other school in the county so I've hung on to them) and it's pretty much the same stuff in a different order.

I second starting a Physics thread on here. Or even a general Science tips one - it's going to be a weird year for all of us without proper practicals.

I'm sad about no practicals, I hope it doesn't put students off science.

[quote TheLetterZ]@WhenSheWasBad Another physicist here 👋. Also teaching AQA. Are you on Twitter? If so the follow ChatPhysics for lots of great physics advice. I also recommend Matthew Benyohai @ BenyohaiPhysics as he has posted the whole of AQA gcse physics course as ppt and worksheets.

You could start a thread with physics stuff and we will all help out where we can.[/quote]
That sounds good. AQA here too and a Physics degree.
I have taught EDXCEL too but am used to AQA now.

Am I allowed to rip another teacher's head off?! Who just referred to this years exams as Mickey Mouse?

I am sure you all know who.

@Piggywaspushed

Am I allowed to rip another teacher's head off?! Who just referred to this years exams as Mickey Mouse?

I am sure you all know who.

I think that would be completely justified. Whether they believe that this method has led to higher grades is irrelevant. To disrespect the time, energy and effort of an entire year group of children, and for something beyond their control, is absolutely disgusting.

That is a great idea to have subjects threads - we can really help each other out.

@Piggywaspushed - our friend 50?

Just started a physics thread - such a good idea.

Thanks for all the support.

Excellent

@WhenSheWasBad - let off steam or have a moan in the republic whenever you want and as often as you want

[quote StaffAssociationRepresentative]@Piggywaspushed - our friend 50?[/quote]
I really don’t get that poster. They claim to be a teacher, yet say teaching is a cushy job and teachers aren’t qualified/clever enough to do anything else. Definitely some self esteem issues going on there!

How DID you guess!!

Am I missing something or did the express never reveal the result of their school safety poll? Seems weird they'd go to the effort and never publish the result https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1324759/uk-schools-return-coronavirus-latest-news-school-a-level-grades-gavin-williamson?spotimmscrolltoocomments=true&spotimmhighlightimmediate=true

Wasn't sure if this was on here (probably is!)

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/08/looking-at-children-as-the-silent-spreaders-of-sars-cov-2/?utmsource=twitter&utmmcampaign=hu-twitter-general&utmmedium=social

I feel like this is the staff room we don't have, but with people in it who don't make me stabby.

@MrsHamlet

I feel like this is the staff room we don't have, but with people in it who don't make me stabby.

Maybe we would if it was real though - for example I get really cross and start making comments about people who steal my mug, or who leave their dirty mug ON TOP not IN the dishwasher

Well done @noblegiraffe on the AIBU thread. I've C&Pd it and emailed it to my (ex Tory councillor) dad. Ha. He thinks unions are blocking schools opening. I've just had a text from the NEU about exams in 2021. First contact in ages.

@Piggywaspushed

Am I allowed to rip another teacher's head off?! Who just referred to this years exams as Mickey Mouse?

I am sure you all know who.

I doubt very much that she is a teacher.

Ooh that’s brave, goats! Let me know if you get a response!

I was at my Daily Mail-reading parents’ house as the ‘valid mock’ debacle unfolded and by the end of it I think even they were convinced Gav is a complete dunderhead.

Well done Apu Jnr & Piggy Jnr for the GCSE results.

According to Twitter (obviously the fount of all knowledge) the number of tests last week was down but the number of positives results was up. So remove ‘cases have gone up because testing has gone up’ and replace it with ‘testing has got more targeted’ on your bingo cards.

Still think there will be a last minute u-turn on masks in school, but they are leaving it very late. Especially for the East Midlands LAs that go back next week.