The Fortieth Republic - Schools are safe but they are vectors so go online

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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 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

Secondary. We're expected to mark work as per policy, so my year 10/11 will be marked once a week and 12/13 fortnightly.
And we're setting homework 🤣

Looks like lots of parents pleasantly surprised with provision online so far on the main board. That’s good to know.

Can anyone recommend some sort of stand that will let me film a flat whiteboard on a table? Does that make sense?

We're going with policy too roughly - twice a half term for core and once a half term for everyone else for KS3. Everyone else twice a half term.

We have capped at 15 per year group, those 15 in one classroom with TA, teacher in other class delivering live content and replying live to children's queries etc via Teams (2 classes per year). All TAs in all the time. PPA on Fridays but most of our TAs don't work Fridays so I am not sure how that's going to work for KW/V????? Moaning started from parents already as they don't know how to use Teams. KW places hugely over-subscribed, they have had to go with 2 KW parents working outside the home. Parents phoning for places saying "well, it was all right last time, but this time I want him in all the time" and just not getting it (parents SAHP or working part-time from home). Lots of angst. SLT left school about 8.45pm.

Jeez.

@cornercupboard It’s horrendous, isn’t it?

I’d forgotten about PPA. I don’t know if I dare ask.

We have lost our massively generous 2 hours of PPA. Apparently we get that when working online.

Oh phleb you are truly being shat on by your school.

to everyone who is trying to be several different people all at the same time.

@phlebasconsidered

We have lost our massively generous 2 hours of PPA. Apparently we get that when working online.

Insane Phleb

@DollyMixtureLulus

Can anyone recommend some sort of stand that will let me film a flat whiteboard on a table? Does that make sense?

Are you using a phone or a camera? Do you have a visualiser in the school you could use?

@DollyMixtureLulus

Can anyone recommend some sort of stand that will let me film a flat whiteboard on a table? Does that make sense?

We have Hue cams in school, which are like webcams on a bendy support, so they can film your face or something you are writing on. They're quite good, but not sure how expensive or otherwise.

I've also used my phone on a stand, boss and clamp set up in a science lab, but that's probably less easy to get hold of!

I really don't know how people teach primary. Expectations sound insane!!

@phlebasconsidered

We have lost our massively generous 2 hours of PPA. Apparently we get that when working online.

That’s insane?! How do they work that one out??

@echt thank you! Will pass that on :)

I agree, MrsH, my jaw drops when I hear the working life of primary teachers. It’s funny, because non-teachers think that teaching sixth form is like the “top” of teaching and therefore the hardest thing with the best teachers, but it’s the easiest job I’ve ever had! I mean, it’s not EASY easy but it’s certainly way easier than teaching primary sounds. I’d be a bloody nervous wreck.

And our students and parents have been so broken by the crappy and/or ridiculously strict secondary schools in our area that they’re pathetically grateful for the most normal things - a message checking in on a kid, prompt replies to emails, a past paper...when I read some of the entitled parents on here it makes me rage.

I have a phone and an iPad- take it phone will be easier to find a stand for. No visualisers in school that I know of.

There are some ring lights on Amazon. Could moonlight as a Tiktoker

@MrsHamlet

I really don't know how people teach primary. Expectations sound insane!!

Exactly what I was thinking. Tbh most of my lessons are going to be fairly lame (death by PowerPoint) as kids can't really access 60% of what we normally do at home (or in a non specialist classroom). Hate not being able to access full curriculum for nearly a year now but what can I do?

@DollyMixtureLulus

Can anyone recommend some sort of stand that will let me film a flat whiteboard on a table? Does that make sense?

Science clamp and retort stand

Just delurking to say @phlebasconsidered we must be in the same school!

2 teachers expected to be in class actively teaching the year group KW bubble, live marking as usual. NO TA support but also have to provide high quality remote learning including videos. No PPA as that can be taken through the day and any left over time (Ha!) to be used for subject leadership etc.

Strength to all

@phlebasconsidered I bet that's when I'm getting my PPA too

@skylarkdescending It's horrendous at the moment, isn't it? It's cold comfort but we're not alone.

Just finished working and trying to catch up but blimey I’ve missed a lot!

Give me more time to read properly but just want to say you have all done a marvellous job today and I am proud of our profession today

What a tough few days! to all and no calorie chocolates. Taste like the real thing?

What's everyone's prediction for Big ole Gav tomorrow? More stress?

@HarrietDVane sorry you are in this awful position too.

In our case I think it's an out of touch SLT thinking we'll have loads of spare time when in reality remote learning takes much more planning and prep - particularly the videos.

Thinking about speaking to the head tomorrow about all staff required to be on site.

Also, don't know if I missed this on the previous thread but these figures are shocking...

www.tes.com/news/exclusive-coronavirus-schools-teacher-covid-rates-333-above-average?amp

I'm trying to imagine what Gav could possibly do to fuck my (primary school) existence up any more than he has already. Immediate Ofsted inspections, perhaps? Pay cuts for teachers?

I haven't forgiven him for the nightmare of DD's GCSEs last summer either (and never will). I presume he intends to shaft this year's exam cohort just as badly.