The Fifty Seventh Republic - the joy of bank holiday marking

[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 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

What was your previous career, Harriet?

Solicitor! I'm good at Latin...

I was talking to a friend today. Dd's favourite subjects, which she might carry through to A-level, include English, History and Classics. My friend said that sounded like a law-type degree?!

Oh our work scrutinies have been ongoing. They are now returning to work scrutinies including the students, where they sit down with SLT and their books and tell SLT how their assessment and feedback made them improve. Sounds like a decent plan, until SLT "randomly" select all the Bobs in to form their sample.

It's crap isn't it? I've just been told I'm now on on-call rota because I'm 1 period a fortnight short on timetable.

Never mind I've been doing half a HoD role whole year eh? And got a mocksted this week too. Fucks sake.

It would fit well with Law, if that's where her interest lies. In my experience (which is, admittedly, 30 years out of date), History A-level is good prep for a law degree as it's very evidence heavy and involves a lot of wider reading.

For Arnotts and Herc - it's just all too much.

Harriet that sounds mad. Surely there is a case for going to the head and saying ‘if you want me to do this, I’m going to have to stop doing X’

Our union reps would be all over it.

I think my head has checked out after a year of covid, we aren’t being scrutinised at all.

I think I'm going to have to, Noble. We have no reps in school, sadly. I'm glad it's not just me being naive/pathetic about the workload. The trouble with bubbles is that staff are isolated away from each other and we have no time to compare notes. I'm so glad of the wise owls of the Republic.

@noblegiraffe

I think my head has checked out after a year of covid, we aren’t being scrutinised at all.

We aren't having any scrutinies either. I think new staff have been observed, but there haven't been any book scrutinies or learning walks at all, all year, because covid. After half term we're expected to do peer observations (ie, observe each other non-judgementally) to "ease us back into having someone else in the classroom". So no performance management observations have happened for experienced staff this year. Apparently they trust us not to have given up completely, and we're all doing our best in a difficult situation.

@HarrietDVane

It would fit well with Law, if that's where her interest lies. In my experience (which is, admittedly, 30 years out of date), History A-level is good prep for a law degree as it's very evidence heavy and involves a lot of wider reading.

Thank you! She did have a quick internet search at family law tonight... I'm not sure it's a career that's ever crossed her mind!

I've seen all the new staff teach once for 20 mins.
I've seen all the NQTs 3 times for a single lesson.
There are no PM obs planned, and we don't do work scrutiny anyway.

@DreamingofBrie It's a really interesting and varied career with lots of different areas of specialism. The hours are long (similar to teaching, especially when there's something urgent on) but well paid. Sometimes I miss it

That IS interesting about law.... I have a History degree, which didn’t lead directly anywhere, but have several times ended up helping people fill in very complex applications, written reports for child protection stuff and advocated for my family in various situations. I realised I was finally using some of my history skills.

That, plus the increased bolshiness confidence which came with age, plus thinking where can you truly make a difference to other’s lives and potentially to society, made me conclude that I wish I’d trained as a lawyer.

Am still trying to work out what I want to be when I grow up!

Had most ridiculous morning.

Got up at 6am.
Made breakfast for after the gym, got in car at 6.15.
Car wouldn't start
At 6.25 got in partner's car
Wouldn't start
Did some swearing, it started
Drove to the gym, already knew I couldn't swim because the pool wasn't heated properly - was dressed to run
Arrive at gym at 6.45
Walk into changing room - sign on door says 'sorry, showers not working'
WTF?!
Can't go to work after running without a shower, especially as no shower yesterday
Drive home, eat breakfast on the way
Shower, hair wash and dry, back in the car by 7.30

Arrive at work un-exercised, and half an hour late at 8am. Already felt like I'd done a day's work.

Partner then texts to say 'did you have to take my car or has it been nicked?' - him and child were asleep throughout all my door opening and closing, shower running, hairdrier, huffing and puffing. I hated them a bit.

Nice chilled start to the week.

But they've started thinking about P-Exing one of my Bobs - probably going to be the only way to get him what he needs.

Gym is 4 minutes from work.

I spent a decent amount of time in industry. I really enjoyed the buzz of manufacturing, although it's a tough gig. Finished my last stint in a factory after having dd and was office based after that.

I know several lawyers with history degrees. The ability to sift through vast screeds and find (and retain/recall) all the key information is invaluable to lawyers and historians alike. Plus you get a 'nose' for the reliability of the information you find. I did a lot of advocacy in my role which, conversely, helped with my transfer into teaching. The ability to think on your feet and change tack depending on what you get back from the room is very, very useful.

Rule that sounds like a nightmare! Did you find out what was wrong with your car?

Flat battery - it's an ongoing issue. I need a new car.

Partner wants me to get an e car, I want a 1986 Golf GTI convertible. Because I'm almost 50, and that was the funnest car I've ever had. Probably wouldn't start well either!

Oo I’d like to see you in front of a class Harriet! I’d guess it’s an uncommon career change?

rule what a nightmare morning! And tell me what PExing is?)

The open letter from NEU, iSAGE members, Parents Untied etc etc calling for masks not to be scrapped from 17 May - it’s good , however doesn’t address the argument that cases may have seemingly risen in secondary because everyone was tested/ most still testing. You can add your name to the signatories although I don’t know how long it takes to show, mine isn’t yet:

covidactiongroup.net/open-letter-to-secretary-of-state-for-education-uk-may-4-2021/?fbclid=IwAR1UyeTHGzo9aspaN05K5w2A0xuY8ELq93-cmPNKT5Pspvz41B5Gxa-XsGg

Jan - it's more common than you might think. I was the only one in my PGCE cohort but my tutor told me she gets at least one a year for primary. Quite a few more go for secondary (presumably they have degrees which fit the brief).

But I thought I heard/read somewhere that cases are not rising in schools - in fact, they're falling to a very low level?

Several ex lawyers at my school. One has gone back, mind.