The Forty-fifth Republic - Is there anyone there? Surely time for half term

[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

Again this schedule is normal and during busy periods at work, you just learn to work more effectively and encourage husband (parents/whoever you are in a bubble with if you are single parent) to take the kids stuff off your plate and work more hours to get it done. Why can't you do this on a temporary basis to help the children to get back on track. Teaching is a vocation surely?

Seen on another thread while I was waiting for 2yo to finish eating/playing with her dinner. I composed a scathing but not impolite reply.

What I actually wanted to say was FUCK OFF, you UTTERLY STUPID C WORD.

Sorry, should clarify that that comment was wondering why teachers can’t just stay at school until after their kids go to bed to cater for extra work incurred by extended hours.

The downer about long lunchtimes is the supervision, piggy. It is very, very cold in January ! The people calling for longer days should also realise that the children in private schools have an afternoon of sport every week too. They will be exhausted if they are doing core subjects for eight hours.

Retention is a real problem. Some of the younger teachers I know (so the ones that have decamped to private schools anyway) jack it in when they see the difference between their salaries and their friends’ salaries. They also compare the hours they are expected to work. I am guessing it is even more of an issue in the state sector.

Our department went through a horrific bout of bullying from SLT that resulted in the HoF and another 6 members of staff either being managed out, early retirement or resigning. Even though I survived the cull (meaning that they saw value in me), I still have a fear of it all happening again. It was the worst 3 years of my career and nearly broke me, not least because of the effect of seeing the breakdowns of staff who I had close relationships with. It's making me shudder just thinking about it!

It’s making me shudder just thinking about it!

That sounds horrible MrsD

I think a lot of the retention issue is that people don’t realise how hard the job is unless they’ve actually done it.
It’s not well paid. I’m a bit pissed off with the NQT salary.
I’m not paid well. I know I’m not as good as the teachers with who’ve been doing it years and years. But I’m working my ass off to get better and my hours are not reflected in the salary.
Mind hours is not reflected in the salary for most teachers. You could improve retention by reducing contact time. But it would cost a fortune.

Oops mind hours should say mind you, hours is not reflected. (I finished prepping for Monday an hour ago and had a glass (fine 2 glasses) of wine to celebrate)

‘Teaching is a vocation’ is an excuse to make us do more and more without being paid to do it. It’s a job which I usually enjoy but it isn’t my life.

Experienced teachers bring a lot to the table but NQTs do too because they are usually working to get better and have so much energy. Good schools have a mix. I’m missing talking to our oldie teachers (40+ years of teaching) as they give such sensible advice.

Thanks MrsHP, will take a look and use.

I'm afraid that vocation comment was a step too far.

‘Teaching is a vocation’ is an excuse to make us do more and more without being paid to do it. It’s a job which I usually enjoy but it isn’t my life

People do this with nurses too (more I think). Call them saints, but because they are saints they are expected to martyr themselves

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation

Thanks MrsHP, will take a look and use.

I'm afraid that vocation comment was a step too far.

Said by someone earning £115k per year so I’m just laughing at that now!

Experienced teachers bring a lot to the table but NQTs do too because they are usually working to get better and have so much energy.

Completely agree with this. I firmly believe that good schools have a mixture of staff in terms of age, experience and diversity. I gnash my teeth is despair at some modern academies/free schools and schools with unreasonable Heads, who want to staff their school with NQTs to save money and push out experienced staff to do so. We all learn from each other and that makes for a better environment in my opinion.

So I've just started looking at application forms. They ask if you have QTS, I don't (yet) so I guess I'd tick no?
Then there is a whole blank side of A4 to write about myself .

I have two year 11 classes and share both. If you add the salaries of all 3 of us together, you've still got change from £115k 😂

@namechangedyetagain tick no and squeeze in a pending date

Link the personal statement to the job description as closely as you can.

@Timeturnerplease

Again this schedule is normal and during busy periods at work, you just learn to work more effectively and encourage husband (parents/whoever you are in a bubble with if you are single parent) to take the kids stuff off your plate and work more hours to get it done. Why can't you do this on a temporary basis to help the children to get back on track. Teaching is a vocation surely?

Seen on another thread while I was waiting for 2yo to finish eating/playing with her dinner. I composed a scathing but not impolite reply.

What I actually wanted to say was FUCK OFF, you UTTERLY STUPID C WORD.

It would have been completely justified

Why does that form ask the same question twice??

@namechangedyetagain

So I've just started looking at application forms. They ask if you have QTS, I don't (yet) so I guess I'd tick no? Then there is a whole blank side of A4 to write about myself .

Don’t worry about ticking no. All trainee teachers applying for the first job prior to finishing will be a no. Perfectly normal and won’t affect your chances. Very excited for you!

I had to laugh. Last thing kids need is a longer school day. I've finished with year 11 and almost year 13 so revision as normal. Rest of years doing well with fantastic engagement.
And I'm staying. 2 reasons. One, they have given me my dream job of supporting our v vulnerable students in ways I've always wanted to. With the budget to do it. And more importantly my colleagues DD asked me to. She lost her mum in March and whatever happens now I'll stay until she finishes school. Wasn't even an option when she told me she'd hate school if I left. So big girl pants on and keep going.

Ahhh mumsneed that's lovely of you.

I'm staying, lots of boring and practical reasons.

@namechangedyetagain, I’m a bit of a personal statement specialist. Feel free to message me if you would like any help/feedback.

One of my colleagues is off and we have had no applicants for her job. Usually we get quite a few but none. Zilch. No clue what we are doing after Easter.

What subject are you mums?

Side issue to the horror of that "vocation" post, but I hate the way partnered people assume everyone single (esp with kids) is in a bubble.

I'm not, no one's ever offered, there's no one obvious who's unbubbled, AND I could have survived without a childcare one when my kids were younger.

Does that mean I wouldn't like to be in a bubble?

No.

@mumsneedwine

One of my colleagues is off and we have had no applicants for her job. Usually we get quite a few but none. Zilch. No clue what we are doing after Easter.

I really feel for you. I had to work two people’s jobs March to July last year and it was so tough. I’ve had agency staff since Sept who is lovely and competent but it’s still extra work to provide what’s needed for them.

Someone barricade the door in here and stop me from going out onto the main boards tonight. Pleeeease.

@CallmeAngelina

Someone barricade the door in here and stop me from going out onto the main boards tonight. Pleeeease.

Can I tempt you with a drink?!