The Twentieth Republic - all back and its time to bubble bubble ...

[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, especially if you have not used the hand gel. Close the door quietly on your way out and put your mask on.

[hedgehogger1]

I went in to a walk in centre for a test today. 99.9% sure I've just got a cold but thought I'd best check. There was a kid screaming when I got there. Assuming he wasn't keen on being swabbed

[CallmeAngelina]

Oh, and the rows of tables creep forward! We started the day reasonably well-distanced, but I virtually had the front row on my lap by lunchtime.

[Ickabog]

My head is spinning from the million questions, problems and niggles that just couldn't have been predicted or thought of prior to opening for all students. The kids were ok, some tears, lots of laughter and a bit of attention seeking behaviour. I was also charged at and hugged by one of my SEN pupils, which was expected, but perhaps not quite this soon.

[Piggywaspushed]

Not a death stare, no: worse. Mansplaining.

[Iamnotthe1]

@CallmeAngelina

Oh, and the rows of tables creep forward! We started the day reasonably well-distanced, but I virtually had the front row on my lap by lunchtime.

Yes!

I'm having to get the kids to pull their tables back twice a day - it's ridiculous.

[Saucery]

@Piggywaspushed

Not a death stare, no: worse. Mansplaining.

We get Bright And Breezy, Everything Will Be Fiiiiine!
Not sure which is worse.

[Medra]

Why do the kids shuffle forwards? It’s like they need to be able to touch the wall/board.

It’s my first day in with the kids tomorrow (I was off today). I’m a bit scared to be honest, as I’ve had no briefing about any sort of routines. They didn’t bother on our first INSET day and the second fell on my day off.

[blackwych]

Inset today involved about 200 adults squashed in one hall. This is the largest number of people I have seen in one place for months. Not permitted to wear masks and no social distancing. I really couldn't believe it.

[WhyNotMe40]

Blackwych - sounds familiar. Which is why I'm being very fatalistic about it now.

[DollyMixtureLulus]

] I also have migrating tables. I genuinely think some haven't sat on a chair since March, they've been on sofas and beds only.

[DollyMixtureLulus]

1 in 6 children were apparently off in Glasgow last week. This week, at least 2 confirmed cases transmitted in school.

[Augustbreeze]

Has anyone else got Y7s who look at least Y8? We all noticed it, ours are huge and, more confident than normal at this stage!!

Could understand if there were more plump children than usual, or if the kids we knew before lockdown appeared to have shot up (not having seen them for so long), but how can lockdown cause an increase in average height??

And do they seem more confident because they've forgotten how to respect teachers 😱 ?

[Frlrlrubert]

Yes. Lots of of Year 7 are as tall as me (I'm 5'6)

[Saucery]

Still lots of tiny ones in massive blazers around here .

[monkeytennis97]

@Augustbreeze

Has anyone else got Y7s who look at least Y8? We all noticed it, ours are huge and, more confident than normal at this stage!!

Could understand if there were more plump children than usual, or if the kids we knew before lockdown appeared to have shot up (not having seen them for so long), but how can lockdown cause an increase in average height??

And do they seem more confident because they've forgotten how to respect teachers 😱 ?

Yup. They do look very big! All that eating over lockdown.

[blackwych]

WhyNotMe - I think I'm also going to have to be fatalistic or I won't get through the first week. I do wonder what parents would think if they knew.

[monkeytennis97]

@blackwych

Inset today involved about 200 adults squashed in one hall. This is the largest number of people I have seen in one place for months. Not permitted to wear masks and no social distancing. I really couldn't believe it.

Have you got a union rep? Let them know of your concerns.

[Fossie]

After hyping myself up through 2 inset days (well run with social distancing for staff too) I ended in not going in today as eldest DD got a text at 5am today saying she has a positive Covid test. Thankfully she has no symptoms but it will mean we are all (family) off school. My poor HOD! It’s hard enough to work out our own lessons (strange staggered timetable) without having to work out what, when and where my classes are to check cover. At least, since I feel well, I can create work at home.

[MsAwesomeDragon]

We only have 2 yeargroups any day this week, so today was the day for years 8 and 9. I don't teach any of them, so I was free all day, but I can't really pinpoint anything productive that I did. Other than attending a first aid crash course for a medical condition one of my new pupils has. It sounds scary!!! I sincerely hope i never have to use this new knowledge, but I'm glad I know it now as if it is ever needed I will be the thing that keeps that child alive!!!!!

Dd started year 6 yesterday. She was miserable all day 😢 The seating plan had her at the end of a row, sitting next to the worst boy in the class. I'm afraid I was an awkward parent and emailed her teacher to let him know how miserable and anxious she was about having nobody she can talk to during lessons (she has selective mutism and literally can't talk to this boy). He spoke to her this afternoon and she's switching seats first thing tomorrow 😁 I don't mind if he thinks I'm an awkward, over anxious parent, as long as dd is happier, which she is. Yesterday she'd pretty much shut down and would barely speak to us after school, today she's bouncing and has told me all about her day. Such a difference from one little change.

[MsAwesomeDragon]

I should add, the bit about sitting next to the worst boy in the class were her words. I don't know the boy, he might be very nice, but dd doesn't like him at all so can't talk to him even if she wanted to. I'm not trying to be rude about other people's children.

[RigaBalsam]

We have year bubbles but four times today I have been in a packed corridor with kids albeit wearing face masks. All within about 10cm.

We have to lead them out of their area but as as all classes leave you end up in the scrum. SLT are going to look at it.

[GravityFalls]

Oh dear, hope she’s ok Fossie! Well, at least nobody can quibble about you having to be off.

First of two days of INSET for me and the reality seems to be sinking in - way more talk about safety measures and people who had been gung-ho previously now back tracking.

We can wear masks in the classroom when working with small groups or individuals and students are also encouraged (we can’t force them) to wear masks, especially in small classrooms. The principal cane in and winced a bit when he saw just how close computers are to each other and said by all means encourage mask wearing in those situations. Our students are all over 16 so I’m glad people are taking it more seriously. We also had Teams training and are being told to develop our planning so we’re “lockdown ready” as they’re actually developing a policy about what we need to deliver should we move to remote learning (6 months too late, but ok).

[tadjennyp]

Checking in after our first inset day which did feature some social distancing. Finally got a timetable too! Definitely feel a bit grubby though. Arjun sounds amazing and he is definitely why we do this job. 🙂

[RigaBalsam]

It was very surrral seeing 200 kids in face masks in assembly.

[tadjennyp]

Hope your dd is ok fossie .