The Nineteenth Republic - DfE guidance issued August Bank Holiday Weekend!

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff only – a sort of room of requirement. Baiters, haters, goaders 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 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

Do not give ‘The Every twat for Themselves mob’ the staffroom password as a number of them are operating in an alternative reality.

No DfE muppets allowed

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 goad us then that is not allowed in the staffroom. Close the door quietly on your way out

@noblegiraffe that's not okay at all. We specify 7 for maths but their CAGs were hilariously high so I suspect they might be in the same position.

MrsH and cheese you're at the opposite end of the county then. I'm up in the North of the county. I like both of you too 🥰

We're all not far as the crow flies then... but the hills and lakes get in the way!!!

noble that's horrific! Why on earth haven't the school advised them strongly not to do it. Honestly, for a kid like that, it's the kindest thing to get them to quit while they're ahead. Although, having said that, I did once a pupil from another, tiny, school who came to do A Level maths after getting a 5 at GCSE. They needed a lot of support at the beginning, but put the work in for themselves and it didn't take long before they fit right in and were always around the middle of the class in any assessments. So it can be done, but it's rare, and usually because of some exceptional circumstances at GCSE.

@noblegiraffe

For my maths teacher colleagues so they can share my pain:

Foundation kid. Algorithm 6. A-level Maths.

That's ridiculous. I have constant battles with students who didn't get the grades being allowed to do A-level chemistry and then struggling (and inevitably dropping out), but I think I'd win the argument that they must have done higher at GCSE. We state a 6, but 5s keep sneaking in - I think I have finally got our maths requirement stated as a 6 too, students don't seem to realise how much of the course is maths. It does students no favours to be on completely inappropriate courses.

@noblegiraffe

For my maths teacher colleagues so they can share my pain:

Foundation kid. Algorithm 6. A-level Maths.

Not maths but can still appreciate the pain. What's in it for the student?! Why???

I had a begging email from a parent asking me to accept a boy who got a 3 in English GCSE and a 4 in history (both below my requirements) but his 5 in drama makes him apparently an ideal candidate.

I honestly don't know. Our sixth form has a long history of overriding maths dept concerns when it comes to letting kids on or keeping them on the course. Every year we get at least one U because of it and it's so unfair on the kids.

Desperate for bums on seats, and a bit of 'if kids can get a good grade in English from a 6, why not maths?'.

That would have stuffed you on the algorithm!

DH (private school) has 17 in his FM class this year.

It did indeed, Piggy!

I’m in bed. Shattered but not sleepy.

Inset again tomorrow then going swimming in the evening. I’ll be shattered but it should clear my head of information overload. Then I’m off Thursday and will be planning ready to teach on Friday.

Took the dog for a good walk this evening to clear my head.

I need to keep up good habits to avoid a mental health nose dive.

Ooh, you're all Northerners! I'm a soft Southern Home Counties wuss.

And the reason that's possible in English and other essay subjects isn't necessarily because the jump from GCSE to A level is bigger in maths than English, but because it's more likely for someone good at English (or, say, history) to underperform at GCSE relative to raw talent because the mark scheme is both restrictive and subjective.

@noblegiraffe

For my maths teacher colleagues so they can share my pain:

Foundation kid. Algorithm 6. A-level Maths.

😱 feeling your pain.

Not me Angelina! I am in the Most Boring County in England.

It honestly won this award. Twice.

Of course, I myself am actually Glaswegian. Come for me and I will rip your head off. And then deep fry it.

Well done everyone who was in and survived today. INSET for me tomorrow..... trying to go in with my positive pants on but it’s going to be hard...

Doesn't Captain/Sir Tom come from there?

I need to keep up good habits to avoid a mental health nose dive.

I need to get some good habits to prevent one. Today I went straight for my normal vices and ate nearly a whole tube of BBQ pringles on the way home, then two Rolo pudding things. Healthy nutritious dinner it was not.

I'm absolutely furious tonight though. Partly school stuff, partly that I'm knackered, partly my sister in law being a twat... am going to go to bed to put an end to the day of shite.

Yes, form the next village along from me. I actually know the family.

This does not make the county less dull.

I can tell you are all tired . Wider MN is much less fighty tonight!

I think maybe all the TB are sorting out their back to school stuff or maybe printing off their letters to the head.

I’ve had a lovely day in that London - it’s really weirdly quiet here, quieter than our touristy home city. Lots of mask wearing too. It was surprisingly fine wearing a mask on the train down too - not as bad as I thought it might be (and both my kids were fine with it too). Not thought about work at all!

@Piggywaspushed

Not me Angelina! I am in the Most Boring County in England.

It honestly won this award. Twice.

Of course, I myself am actually Glaswegian. Come for me and I will rip your head off. And then deep fry it.

Me too Piggywaspushed. In London now but got many East Ren friends who aren't happy tonight...

This amuses me (but I'm on my third and I must stop!)

www.independent.co.uk/voices/gavin-williams-levels-exams-results-schools-commons-a9699911.html