The Twenty-Seventh Republic - rules or guidelines - Pandemic or Pirates of the Caribbean

[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 and you will receive a detention

Yes @monkeytennis97, that is a cheery thing to read.

@monkeytennis97 😊 💐

I have this weird thing going on - my mood is affecting my face. My eyes feel really droopy and don't want to open. Can't be bothered to do any further prep for tomorrow. They will get the best I can do in the knowledge that I'm expendable, as is my family.

@SaltyAndFresh Please look after yourself 💐

Oh Salty :(

I bet you “best I can do” is exceptional. X

@monkeytennis97
(my first ever I think)
Thinking of you and your DS

My year 11 classes - two of them - were set an exam paper as prep for their "valid mock" tomorrow. Out of 56 students, 11 have done the work.
I despair.
Salty sounds like a day in bed/on the sofa with a blanket for you

Well, we had a learning walk the week before half term, and the whole department dropped from blue to amber, all of us on the basis of a 10 minute observation each. So unfortunately no, I won't be exceptional

@SaltyAndFresh

I have this weird thing going on - my mood is affecting my face. My eyes feel really droopy and don't want to open. Can't be bothered to do any further prep for tomorrow. They will get the best I can do in the knowledge that I'm expendable, as is my family.

Feet up and spoil yourself today. Think of one thing you would like to do and do it (even a film can help you forget for a bit!) and

@SaltyAndFresh

Well, we had a learning walk the week before half term, and the whole department dropped from blue to amber, all of us on the basis of a 10 minute observation each. So unfortunately no, I won't be exceptional

What hell is this?

That is unbelievable! Salty it's not worth it, it just isn't. Just do what you can. Teaching relies on a lot of good will. They are rapidly losing it.

Ffs! I know I'm not wildly popular because I insisted on doing my new staff learning walks (because we have odd systems and it's better I spot issues than the head does) but learning walks with grades NOW?! WTF!?

@SaltyAndFresh

Well, we had a learning walk the week before half term, and the whole department dropped from blue to amber, all of us on the basis of a 10 minute observation each. So unfortunately no, I won't be exceptional

I hate schools that do this-I left one that did and it took me nearly a year to stop ‘jumping out of my skin’ whenever anyone opened the classroom door. It’s barbaric. Teachers need to be the professionals that they are and allowed to ‘breathe’ to get the best out of us.

@MrsHamlet

Ffs! I know I'm not wildly popular because I insisted on doing my new staff learning walks (because we have odd systems and it's better I spot issues than the head does) but learning walks with grades NOW?! WTF!?

This was a thing at least 9 years ago when I switched schools sadly. Bloody red amber green bollocks! It means nothing but a tick box exercise that can really affect someone’s MH.

It's bloody stupid. Mine is bad enough (it's not mine but it's my job to do it) but it's about processes rather than judgement, if that makes sense. And it's between me and them... it goes no further unless they choose to share it for some reason.
I've seen all the new staff and they're all doing a bloody good job and I told them so.

Time to revive .

It never fails to annoy. :o

I like the stand with me idea.

Come in Gove, Starmer Boris!

Come and stand with us in cramped corridors and rooms.

@Augustbreeze

Re vaccines, there was a post last night on the Data thread (iirc) of a press release from the Head of Vaccination saying they'd be available to over 50s within weeks. Sorry no time to find the link now. Sophie something was the Head's name I think.

I'm predicting school "Christmas" holidays which start about the 2 December, when the lockdown will be renewed.

Yes that's what my Gp mate keeps insisting.

We had learning walks too. More to come that are about seeing if we are all embedding the new goal we've been set (understanding what this goal really is requires reading a ton of attachments and PowerPoints dumped in an email a couple of weeks ago.

It's all full steam ahead with new initiatives and school improvement plans and still will be despite teaching through an alleged lockdown.

It would be nice if they could ease off the pressure given all the additional pressure we're all already under but the big bucks folks have to be seen to be doing something for the big bucks even if it's just destroying staff morale.

It really is time to get my planner out and check I know what I'm doing and what I need for tomorrow and to face reading the new behaviour and motivation policy I glanced an email announcing when I turned my laptop on.

Watched Marr.

I love Jeremy Farrar he seems to know the score.

I was supposed to have an observation but the year group got sent home and the observation was never mentioned (and will certainly never be brought up by me).

Going back to last lockdown we handed out 18 computers to our year 6 children. 2 of them were turned on. Not even did work etc but just turned it on.
One child did work.

Jesus. No formal observations at my school this term (maybe for new staff? I don't know). And no learning walks.

SLT and HOYs drop in all the time unannounced but it's always supportive, just so we know they're there as behaviour back up, and just to "take the temperature" I guess. I'm happy with that.

Has there ever been positivity rates published for 0-4, 5-11 and secondary?

I don't think they could coordinate observations safely for us. Certainly not the normal routine.

Slt have been popping in regularly and Im sure that's been part of a secret ongoing observation thing.

DH is having an operation next Thursday which will put him out of action for a month. Least he’ll escape most of the Covid drama next half term. I for one am panicking now. What if I get ill during his recuperation? Will my Head grant me leave to provide care for him 48 post op? If I can’t get a delivery slot it’ll mean dragging DD and DS to the supermarket - actually I think that’s my biggest fear!