Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Original poster

The Fifty-Sixth Republic - Who is up for a game of TAG?

999 replies

StaffRepFeistyClub · 15/04/2021 22:00

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 non-staff as it attracts the wrong sort of crowd.

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. Do not sit on the chairs and do wear a mask

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
namechangedyetagain · 28/04/2021 22:33

Ha! No it's definitely not me. I just cry into my gin if it's gone badly and take on board what people suggest and try and do better next time. Thankfully none of our cohort are like that (though we're primary). I'm not sure they'd last with our scitt tutor. She wouldn't stand for the lack of professionalism. I'm not entirely sure they seem cut out for teaching. And I say that as someone who is constantly worried if I'm good enough.

Anyway today was a bit better as child wasn't in class. The difference it made was immense. Much quieter on the whole. Though the toilet trips and being interrupted every few minutes is driving me mad. It seems they've forgotten we're not at home now whereby they can disappear whenever they like. Though being young I'm always worried in case of accidents!

JanFebAnyMonth · 28/04/2021 22:36

Spotted!! Do I get house points, Miss? First time I think have ever read of those (much-mentioned in the original guidance) mobile testing units deployed at a school because of an outbreak:

www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/mobile-testing-units-deployed-accrington-20478762?fbclid=IwAR1ri67xe9YBichhjJuTxwbHKaXA5pl0OoH8HDsJsJj0sECfzhpwipKEsus
Interesting that the Head says use LFTs every day if you want (in addition to the PCRs for all KS3, who are at home)

TheHoneyBadger · 28/04/2021 22:39

I'm getting meaner with the toilet requests - oh have you done all of the work then? No? Let's get that done and ask me again then shall we. Or, did you really just interrupt me mid sentence to ask if you can go to the toilet whilst I'm explaining the work to you? Also lots of my head hurts, my pen is stopping working, my pen is leaking type interruptions Hmm

I think I've said, 'what would you have me do about it?' a lot this week.

winewolfhowls · 28/04/2021 22:42

Oh my word we had a hot chocolate wanting trainee too! How bizarre.
And one that freaked out due to a balloon phobia when a y9 lad pulled one out of his pocket, i kid you not. It was bedlam. Our current trainee is a sweetie and completely normal though.

noblegiraffe · 28/04/2021 22:45

The trainee who is either on a uni led PGCE or a schools based SCITT with an inexplicable number of placements?

MsAwesomeDragon · 28/04/2021 22:48

I'm quite glad I only have one year 7 class this year, and I share them so I only teach them once a week. They drive me mad with toilet requests, and several of them have toilet passes so they have to be allowed to go. I end up with a "queue" on the board so I know what order they asked in, but they don't get to go if they haven't done the work (except the ones with passes, I don't want to be responsible for one of them having an accident).

I marked year 10 exams this week and am feeling pretty rubbish about them. The marks are appallingly low, but comparable with the parallel set. There's going to be so much work to do if they're going to get anywhere near their target grades next year!!! It's like lockdown removed knowledge from their heads that they did actually know beforehand. I did have one really good one, but I don't even feel like I can claim that good result because he has worked on extra stuff with his parents and a tutor.

MrsHamlet · 28/04/2021 22:49

That's the one noble
I've had to refuse to have more than one trainee back for various reasons, and she'd definitely be on that list!

BigBobBoots · 28/04/2021 22:54

Residential cancelled here to phleb - a few day trips instead.

HarrietDVane · 28/04/2021 22:56

@noblegiraffe

The trainee who is either on a uni led PGCE or a schools based SCITT with an inexplicable number of placements?
I didn't spot that! It must be a wind up. Bit annoyed that I bothered to engage with it on that basis. Angry
HarrietDVane · 28/04/2021 22:58

Our residential has been cancelled too, Phleb. I'm would normally be booking up our autumn (day) trips now but I'm not sure it's worth it yet.

WhenSheWasBad · 28/04/2021 23:01

I’ve been trying to keep up with the thread but I’m failing. So busy this week.

Loads of tests to mark, you would think with the extra workload SLT would reduce the marking burden elsewhere. Spoiler alert, they haven’t.

I too am utterly sick of the the constant toilet requests. Kids swearing blind they went to the loo at lunch (30 minutes ago) but they need to go again Hmm

ArnottsUnderpass · 28/04/2021 23:07

Yup. We've got the joy of book trawls and a deep dive from MAT next week. Fuckadoodledoo. As if we haven't got enough on.

I brought marking home. It's not been done. I'm finding myself being more and more uppity this week about workload and sacking it off after spending the weekend and the last 2 evenings working til god knows when. One was my sodding day off too.

Interviewedundercaution · 28/04/2021 23:46

Ah, I get the trainee comments now I've read around the Staffroom. Was concerned Name was getting goaded.

Our residential cancelled, thank god.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 28/04/2021 23:48

@phlebasconsidered

Could I ask, are any other year 6 doing residential? We have been told we are doing PGL and I am really not happy with this. Anyone who has ever been in one of their dining rooms will understand why!
No! It does help that it is still in the Wales guidelines that trips shouldn't be happening and the place we are booked to go to is still closed. But we just arent contemplating it anyway. Imagine if one of the kids came down with symptoms and you were away from home! A logistical nightmare.
eitak22 · 29/04/2021 03:42

Neither of our residential are going ahead. Not doing any school trips yet but visitor's are allowed.

Am wide awake with shivers, then overheating. Is it bad if I don't go in today? Feel bad to be off for my vaccine but not sure I'm going to make it to work let alone be useful.

MrsHamlet · 29/04/2021 06:00

It sounds like you definitely shouldn't be in today eitak
Rest up.

Iamnotthe1 · 29/04/2021 06:23

@phlebasconsidered

Could I ask, are any other year 6 doing residential? We have been told we are doing PGL and I am really not happy with this. Anyone who has ever been in one of their dining rooms will understand why!
Our original residential was cancelled but we've arranged an alternative which we are running by ourselves (so no external providers like PGL).
MsAwesomeDragon · 29/04/2021 06:28

eitak if you are ill, you are ill. It doesn't matter what the cause of that illness is. The vaccine causes different side effects for everyone. I sailed through mine with no problems, my friend felt like she had a bad cold but could carry on, you've been hit harder and sound like you feel really rough. So take a day off so you feel better. Nobody really benefits from you being in school feeling like that. Feel better soon Flowers

MsAwesomeDragon · 29/04/2021 06:35

Dd2's residential is not going ahead. Nothing in its place that I know of yet. Dd2 is thrilled with this, as she didn't want to go on a residential with "those idiots" as she calls the majority of her class (privately, at home).

WhenSheWasBad · 29/04/2021 06:35

I agree eitak if you are ill don’t go in. Hope you get well soon.

Timeturnerplease · 29/04/2021 06:47

I think I've said, 'what would you have me do about it?' a lot this week

@TheHoneyBadger My catchphrase is ‘and how could you solve that problem?’. Said it 532 times yesterday alone.

Am slowly training them to go to the loo at break and lunch though, then only once per session if they really needed. I do have one with a history of pooing himself last year in Y2 though, so am always wary of that....

HarrietDVane · 29/04/2021 07:51

Ha ha! Time, my catchphrase is also "How could you solve this problem by yourself?" - must be a Y3 thing!

13luckyblackcats · 29/04/2021 07:57

Thanks @HairyMaclary, I have planned for the TAs to lead the activities and have an attention autism style start which deals with one of them, but hadn't thought to model the other activities, so will plan that. I really appreciate your help. It's not today and not a new school, but if you are in the NW I have just been passed some details for a brand new school that might be the one you are thinking of?

borntobequiet · 29/04/2021 08:23

My DD, who has all the attributes to be a really good teacher, and who has left many jobs as being not challenging enough and is repeatedly disappointed in the poor organisation and lack of attention to detail of colleagues, was recently offered a PGCE place but decided to put it off for a year because she recently started a job she quite likes...I still don’t really know if teaching would be good for her, if she would be inspired and energised or let down and demoralised...

HobnobbingAboutHobnobs · 29/04/2021 17:01

Fucking schoolcloud! What the actual fuck! Worried fine for y9 last week, but this week? With y11? Who are jumpy as feral cats about what's going on? "computer says no...." 🤬 🤬 🤬