The Forty Fourth Republic - primaries sort of in, secondaries out, Gormless Gav says two weeks notice

[Staffdontblowitnow]

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

@JanuaryChill

Enemy I can't remember are you a mathematical sort of teacher? It's a bit beyond me but sounds interesting.....

I'm a science teacher, but I like maths. It's basically saying what all you lot on here have said - looking at the risk for the entire year is not comparable due to schools being partially closed or closed from Mar-Sep.

The original OP of the data threads was really funny about schools ever coming up, especially anecdotally, but happy to allow all sorts of other anecdata in any other field. It's not as unbiased as they think it is.

Sorry born, i misread having drunk too much wine after a long week. Many apologies.

KWV bubbles and online stuff is proving too much.

Dh and I were just discussing biggest regrets from our own school days. We both agreed that we wished we'd had more interest/inclination in science (we were both in top set maths).

Sorry posted too soon... what's your biggest school days regret?

Poor choice in boyfriends.

Schools days regrets... Going to college instead of a school sixth form. My school didn't have a sixth form but I should have joined one that did. I struggled massively at college as I needed the formal structure of school.

@TrashedWarrior I wonder whether it's the simple fact that SEN schooling has "only" existed for a bit less than 50 years? It's not embedded in the national (international? Don't know) psyche yet!

I think it’s more than that, January. I think it’s fundamental, institutional ignorance of the needs and rights of people with disabilities and differences. Like disabled access to buildings - always an afterthought, at best.

Just after some teams advice.

Is there anyway to “freeze” your screen for the pupils whilst you scroll through other folders?

Should have left boyfriends later in life - got very distracted by boys from the age of 16 onwards. Wish I’d put that mental energy into school work (which admittedly wouldn’t have been as much fun).

@parrotonmyshoulder

I think it’s more than that, January. I think it’s fundamental, institutional ignorance of the needs and rights of people with disabilities and differences. Like disabled access to buildings - always an afterthought, at best.

Yes I meant to add 'in addition to all the other prejudices etc'. Sadly.

As illustrated but the very fact that there was no SEN schooling until the 1974 Act!

Yes, true. You’d hope though, wouldn’t you, that we’d adjusted to it by now!
I’m just out of SEN schools sadly. Now fighting for SEN within mainstream. Different ballgame, not a lesser challenge though!

lonelyplanet, no problem. I do feel for you all having such a difficult time right now. I’d be on the wine I’d I were still teaching full time. Right now I’m signed off sick (nothing serious, though I can’t drink :( ) and deliberately disengaging from the workplace, also considering handing in my resignation as Covid has thrown into sharp relief the fault lines in the organisation I work for and made the everyday frustration I feel less bearable. This time last year I loved my job despite its minor annoyances. This year those annoyances loom much larger and I see them for what they are - indicators that learning and learners will always take second place after admin and process requirements, and that my employers still have no real idea of what I actually do (though at least paying lip service and acknowledging that I do a good job).
Sorry, that was a bit of a rant!

My friend is much better and is hoping to be coming home today. I’m so relieved - now just need to make sure she rests properly and ignores school for the time being - she hasn’t really stopped since all of this started and she takes minimal holiday time as it is. There will be no headteachers left one way or another after this is over.

Is there anyway to “freeze” your screen for the pupils whilst you scroll through other folders?

This depends how you screen share? Are you sharing from within teams or sharing a window with a ppt/visualiser outside of teams?

If you're screen sharing outside teams, just share the window you want them to see then you're free to use your PC as you wish.

I share my screen from my ipad so I can write on OneNote and the other day I was on mute while they did some questions from the screen and very nearly brought up Mumsnet for a quick browse while they watched.

born that all sounds so hard

Glad to hear your friend is on the mend, Carrie

Sorry you're having a tough time, born (and anyone else - lots of people struggling at the moment :( )

Born very similar situation in my school. Managers totally out of their depth with little understanding of what is really going on. They continue to issue pointless demands so they feel they are doing their job properly. At the same time they haven't a clue (and don't want to know) how staff are really feeling and pay lip service to keeping us safe. I'm not sure how long I can stick with it.

@borntobequiet

Thank you all for being so kind! I really appreciate it. I’m actually quite lucky in that I can walk away, and I know that even when this blows over, nothing will be the same anyway, so it’s easier.
My plan is to get vaccinated ( I’m group 5) and perhaps do some supply from September. I’m a little nostalgic for school, though I’m sure a couple of sessions will disabuse me of the rose-tinted eyewear!

Morning all,
It's all a bit rubbish at the minute but it is the weekend so Time to take a breath.

I liked this article comparing lockdowns in different countries.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/30/from-lockdowns-to-pool-parties-how-covid-rules-vary-around-the-world?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

Summer school is a no here, I will be on holiday and hopefully catching up with family abroad who I haven't seen in over a year including my mum.

I'm grumbly. Went to set work for the week ahead and as ever the year 8 stuff is missing or sub par. I feel really bad for the year 8s. There are pros and cons for each taking on the planning and provision for a year group each - pros reducing work load etc but a definite con is if one year group has someone who is consistently lazy at worst or not up to the task at best (I think it's a bit of both as the latter could be overcome if the former wasn't so entrenched).

HOD is complaining year 8 aren't engaging brilliantly and assuming it's a them issue but the quality of provision and lack of effort or variety (powerpoint recording - read slides to them, list of tasks to do and a load of worksheets none of which have been adapted to suit remote) doesn't exactly encourage engagement.

Sorry for the moan. Better I do it here than end up blurting it out inappropriately at work.

It's snowing here but don't think it will really settle this time as it's been raining too.

Is it too early for gin? I'm really frustrated. This is why I'm not a good team person really - I'd rather do it myself so it gets done properly (I'm aware my idea of properly might not be everyone else's by the way - not that delluded) or be in charge so I could actually help and support people into doing it to the standard it needs to be done. I may be a control freak.

Oh and bridging lessons are a link to a powerpoint and a load of worksheets leaving me going what the fuck am I meant to do with that? I can't just send that out to them! And breathe.