The Thirty-Third Republic - End of term and DfE threats- cheers all!

[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-

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Do not give the staffroom password just in case it attracts the wrong sort

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 booze is stashed - Thirsty Tuesdays, Fizz Fridays now in operation.

If you come with a stick to goad us then that is not allowed in the staffroom and you will receive a detention

[frwink]

Errmmmm

Friend who works low down in DfE said they were called to an urgent briefing at 3pm where they were informed of the plan. Then asked to work over Xmas to sort out the shit show.

When exactly was this plan concocted? Susan said they had been talking to the pilot schools all term. Sorry, no , Suze. Don't believe you.

DS wants to work in social and public policy. Pray to God that there is a Labour government one day and he is put in charge of the DfE because he has more common-sense and foresight (and empathy) at age 16 than any of this shower of shite.

We decided £15 was a nice round number for vouchers. So we went for it.

@CountDuckulasCranberrySauce sorry to hear that. I'm sure it is end of term exhaustion all round. You'll sort them next year.

My school took the INSET so I am child free tomorrow. Yipee! As they haven't had a lot of time to plan it we are going to have some of the day as planning time. Yipee!

My sister comes back to the uk tomorrow. She has to test on Tuesday. There's a list of approved test centres she can use. Some aren't actually approved so are can't book. Some don't know if they're approved. Some are fully booked. She's got to travel 95 miles for a test. She doesn't drive and can't use public transport. She's just described the government as a bunch of useless wankers.
I've suggested that that's mild...

She's just described the government as a bunch of useless wankers

Not even in the country yet and she already bang on the money.

@DecemberStar

Like yr latest thread noble.

And a very good point made on it by someone who's calculated how many tests will be needed to test all secondary students and staff. (1.3 milllion or something , not sure if that includes "twice", forget how)

Do the govt have these tests available??

Also interesting to hear that at least one LA has already told schools they are no way going to be ready by first week in Jan.

I think that was me - it's 3.3 million and it doesn't include the twice. So actually 6.6 million. I'd be incredibly be surprised if that many tests materialised...

Thanks for keeping me up to date today colleagues-it’s been a busy day!

I swear what I’ve just read back is something out of the twilight zone!

Glass of Prosecco in order in the Staffroom tonight

I think Slovakia managed to test 3.6 million people over the course of a weekend. Perhaps we should get them to do it.

She paid €59 for a test yesterday in Germany - results in 7 hours.
I'm furious and upset and worried all at the same time tonight. I can't even pin down why.

@SmileEachDay

But a few think the world revolves around them. They are so rude

I had one kiss his teeth at me today when I politely suggested that if he didn’t want to do the quiz could he at least not take over the entire room with his nonsense.
I said “don’t do that to me, it’s incredibly rude”

He said “I’m rude? You’re the rude one, telling me to be quiet”

I've been stewing all day. Last class yesterday were hyper and a couple really badly behaved. Issued two behaviour points. Parental complaint to senior management about me this morning. "Encouraged" to revoke the points. I've been raging about it all day. What's the point in a sanction system if it folds when a parent writes in? My lovely boss wrote a raging email on my behalf. I'm minded to move my entire front row to the back next term and just get on with teaching the ones who want to learn.

I realise that this is small news compared with the other stuff that's been going on in Education today but it's really angered me.

Have been in a covid induced sleep most of the day. I'm stunned (well not really) that dfe have moved the goalposts again at this late stage of term. It's shocking and I cannot believe that the unions are not up in arms. And that's not even considering teachers having to covid test pupils.

Still feeling quite rubbish, had to cancel Christmas day with mum and step dad today. We sadly don't have any other family since gran is in a nursing home and the after the bereavements we've had.

I'm feeling bored but too achey and zapped to do anything. Can't even sit / sleep comfortably. Just fed up.

Ah thanks Fiend, sorry I couldn't remember.

Interesting re yr DfE acquaintance herc.

Wow, that's got to be some kind of record!

Goady teacher-basing thread posted at 8.57 Reported (by many), deleted and banned by 9.01

Way to go, MNHQ!

What was it about??

A VERY obvious (and pathetic) goady one, about teachers needing to admit we did fuck all during lockdown. Or words to that effect.
0/10 for effort.

Came home wondering why on earth some children are so damn rude and entitled.

@DreamingofBrie we had the exact same conversation after school today. I've actually allowed myself to feel hurt about the response to Xmas presents this year. First the pack of cards debacle, then today an Xmas pencil for prizes in games at the party. Made sure they all got a pencil. Out of 20 kids, none said thanks.. not one. 1 snatched it so forcefully that he bent my little finger back, 9 complained that they wanted a different topper/rubber thing and would I swap it (3 cried when I couldn't), 2 asked for an extra pencil. Two went and drank squash without being told they could, 3 helped themselves to a second one meaning other kids missed out.

They are fucking me right off. Maths (that I can bin without marking), reading, spelling, times tables and pshe tomorrow. And a lecture about politeness being free.

Am going to get them to look up entitled in the dictionary too, then write sentences using it. Screw Christmas 'magic'.

It's shocking and I cannot believe that the unions are not up in arms

They are. The NEU and the NAHT have responded to the government in strong terms. The NAHT particularly seem to have entirely lost patience.

The NAHT particularly seem to have entirely lost patience.

Not surprised. They were probably relying on the Christmas break to sleep and now they're supposed to be using it to become experts on covid testing, setting up the school site and arranging to hire Kevin's mum?

Oh and still doing contact tracing for half of it.

I'm glad. The NAHT especially needs to get shitty this time.

We got put in Tier 3 today. I live in T2, where we're going for Xmas is T1. It'll all end in tier 3 imho.

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot, you could pretty much sell tickets for my front row, the two rows behind are sweethearts who listen, engage and get on with their work. I'd be happy to move the front row to the back and let them doss about all year, it would certainly make the job easier!

I'd dosed off a bit during the school meals saga. But poor Susan's now getting skewered again over the decision that hadn't yet been announced.