THE FIFIETH REPUBLIC!

[StaffRepFeistyClub]

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.

Do not give the staffroom password to others 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.

[noblegiraffe]

people at the end of the course had to write what their initial preconceptions of you were compared to what they thought at the end.

I honestly think I would prefer the circle back massage to this.

[MrsHamlet]

I chickened out of an interview today. Which turns out to have been a massive mistake because a colleague who drove me almost to the brink has just been promoted. Now I have to find a new job urgently rather than in my own time.

[piggywaspushed]

Oh no mrsH, I feel your pain. It sucks.

We had a write stuff down thing but we had to say it out loud. My friend knew I would hate this so she wrote mine down with 'read only when or if you feel like it' written on the envelope.

[piggywaspushed]

MrsH do you think this personage would have got it even if you had had your interview? if so, that may not be a bad thing that you pulled out?

[MrsHamlet]

My interview was elsewhere, so they'd have got it whatever. It was a done deal.
Fuckit.

[HerdyGerdy]

Now I have to find a new job urgently rather than in my own time.

You and me both. The position above one of my TLRs has come up. I found out in a whole staff email. If SLT wanted me to apply, they would have emailed. They didn't. Sooooo.... I was looking before but really need to push it now because it's going to make me look an idiot to not get this role despite the fact that I'm not intending to apply but the rest of staff won't know that

[HerdyGerdy]

@MrsHamlet

My interview was elsewhere, so they'd have got it whatever. It was a done deal.
Fuckit.

Why didn't you apply MrsH?

[WhenSheWasBad]

I’m sorry MrsH do you need to move schools or something? Sounds very stressful.


I’m on parents evening. My students have been asking what time they have appointments. I’ve told them when they are booked in with me. But they want me to tell them when their appointments with all their teachers are

How the hell would I know.

[MrsHamlet]

It wasn't advertised!!!! I wouldn't have applied anyway - but it's been done in a really underhanded way.

[JanFebAnyMonth]

Simulations of air flow in classrooms with various measures, includes a link to an app where you can ?model your room, I think....

www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/02/26/science/reopen-schools-safety-ventilation.html?referringSource=articleShare&fbclid=IwAR0bzVOvEvMF_pscyz5iAsFVlScxFVVx0VYh4pstFpaT2K35ux7z471veV8

[HarrietDVane]

Piggy - you are wise and you give sensible, measured advice. All schools need a Piggy.

MrsH - I think there is going to be A LOT of movement within the teaching profession in the coming months. People have been sitting tight through the past year but will be making a break for it soon. Hopefully something appealing will come up for you.

[ChloeDecker]

@MrsHamlet

It wasn't advertised!!!! I wouldn't have applied anyway - but it's been done in a really underhanded way.

I worked under a Head who appointed in that way (without advertising to staff-just would call someone to his office a say ‘I’d like to offer you...’).

Always had to be yes people and usually those new to teaching who he would delegate far too much to, so they would burn out quickly. Needless to say, I left!

[piggywaspushed]

Underhand job allocations are the worst. Schools would be in trouble if more staff decided to sue them for this that the other!

[chocolateisavegetable]

Piggy you are a very valued member of our community - just look how much concern was shown when you hadn't posted for a few hours!

MrsH in my experience, this kind of thing often turns out to be a catalyst for something really positive. I feel sure that you are going to end up somewhere much better, and be looking back on today thinking "thank goodness that happened - otherwise I might not be where I am today."

[piggywaspushed]

all schools need a piggy.
This sounds like a new mug/t shirt idea!

[piggywaspushed]

I found it!

[TheHoneyBadger]

Oh piggy. It's a weird political landscape in schools.

I've emailed hod and told her how uncomfortable I felt in the meeting and that I often feel like people forget I'm new to the department and only 0.4 and that I feel like I'm going over and above my role yet end up feeling like I'm in the wrong or failing somehow. Said if there was anything in my duties that she felt I wasn't fulfilling I'd hope she would tell me but otherwise could people please remember I'm new and have basically 'on my own' all year because of covid and zones and don't think I've done badly considering.

Feel very needy and whiny now but ffs. I was never told what I needed to do/produce etc for student and at one stage was moaned at for giving too much feedback then I'm supposed to psychically know what I need to do for her over lockdown. I also get coded emails like year 10 will be doing blah-di-blah abbreviation after lockdown and am like ermm what unit is that and where can it be found on the s-drive or google drive because I'm the first to see them and I literally have no idea what you're talking about.

It feels like all the disadvantages of being an old/experienced teacher re: lack of support, in at the deep end, take it for granted you'll manage and your students will make above expected progress but none of the advantages like being listened to or having a say in things or not being spoken to like a twat.

Big whinge sorry. Just reeling at someone starting out a meeting being that confrontational and having to hold my ground saying, no, I did not know that and I wish you had emailed me and let me know rather than making me feel deeply uncomfortable and like I want to run a mile at the beginning of a two hour meeting.

[phlebasconsidered]

Bubble etiquette has collapsed. I am in a mixed year 5/6 bubble comprising of kids from 3 classes. On Monday i'll be returning to my class. If I get sick by Weds, logic dictates that all 3 classes should close. But apparently now weekends are "firebreaks".

And we have to do a "Wow" welcome back. They won't need a bloody wow. They've been on sodding ps4 for months. Just talking to their friends in a playing field will be a "Wow". What they will need to learn is bladder and appetite control, manners and any form of resilience, just like last time.

Give me strength.

[TheHoneyBadger]

And now I'm paranoid that you all think, yeah not surprised, she's a pain in the arse and I bet she's a nightmare to work with I hate that work can make me feel like this and that a department can feel as cliquey as a bloody american high school gang. Rationally I know it's not and that every individual probably feels the same but god it would be nice to be able to just communicate like normal human beings rather than feeling like you're picking your way through an old minefield that was laid long before you were on the scene and you have no clue where the detonators are.

[MsAwesomeDragon]

What they will need to learn is bladder and appetite control me too . I've grown used to the luxury of going to the toilet whenever I want, and snacking all day (I really need to get out of that habit!!)

[noblegiraffe]

Honey the twat who had a go at you at the start of a dept meeting is the year. Bet the rest of the dept were cringing at their lack of professionalism.

[noblegiraffe]

is the year.

Year? Arse!

[RuleWithAWoodenFoot]

What they will need to learn is bladder and appetite control, manners and any form of resilience, just like last time.

Yep. I've got to do a shit load of testing. I just tried to fit it into a timetable, and it doesn't work - I'll be testing all morning all week.

[phlebasconsidered]

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot I have just made myself mighty unpopular with those in power by refusing to test straight away. No. Fucking. Point. They're 11 and they need ..... well, not a week of sodding tests and "wow"!

[TheHoneyBadger]

I'd like to think so Noble but the response from HOD is that I could come in and talk to her when she's in school on Thursday - which is a day I don't work which rather undermines the idea that she's taken on board what I've said about needing to remember I'm on a 0.4fte contract.

Honestly a bit a despairing right now.