The Fifty-Eight Republic - Do no masks mean that Sports Day will take place?

[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

Must be some panic about Indian variant. Pfizer vaccine being offered today to all staff, carers and parents in local schools if aged 30+...

In another hilarious for teachers moment, I cannot get my bp checked at the chemist opposite my house because covid.

I cannot get a doctor's f2f appt because covid.

Reading BBC website there is a LOT of mention of Indian variant. bolton’s Most affected areas are being offered Pfizer for all 18+.....

Hope you’re all ok piggy.

So far.

I am suffering recurrent migraines, however.

Right so phoned GP. Can't get blood pressure check there either. Covid reasons.

Am I permitted to swear?

That is rubbish @Piggywaspushed you may definitely swear. Call 111 for advice? We have a blood pressure thingy at home for a child's needs-do you jave anyone who might have one, or a nurse/Dr friend who could help?

In personal news, I got the job!! 12 month fixed, SEN, a school I love. Couldn't be happier. Thanks all for the advice and support.

That's rubbish.
My surgery have been excellent until recently, and in the end I called 111 who overruled the surgery and told me to call the surgery to inform them that 111 have directed me to have a same day appointment.

If you're not feeling well then 111 might be your friend.

Great news, Blackcats!

That's rubbish, Piggy. Our surgery is more or less business as usual now, as well as running a vaccine clinic permanently.

Fabulous news blackcats!!! Well done!!

That is appalling piggy. I think you can buy home bp tests from somewhere like Argos. That doesn't necessarily help you get any advice or treatment once you've tested it though.

I'm currently doing a webinar about ofsted subject leadership in primary school. FFS, ofsted are bastards. How the fuck are primary school teachers supposed to be specialists in every bloody subject? I'm history and PSHE lead. I haven't had a history lesson since 1990, or ever had a PSHE lesson.

That’s great news blackcats congratulations.

I’d be mad too piggy getting sick of Covid restrictions everywhere but school. That’s what it feels like, I’m sure there’s quite a few places that are business as usual (plus a mask). But not many.

@13luckyblackcats what fabulous news!!! So happy for you.

I struggled in today. And it was a struggle. Burst into tears at 3.30. Tired, ill and have a couple of tricky fish that just seem to want to do their own thing.

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot

I'm currently doing a webinar about ofsted subject leadership in primary school. FFS, ofsted are bastards. How the fuck are primary school teachers supposed to be specialists in every bloody subject? I'm history and PSHE lead. I haven't had a history lesson since 1990, or ever had a PSHE lesson.

What completely unrealistic expectations are they saying will now be placed on the subject leaders?

Well, obviously loads of things - we need to have observed lessons, talked to children (a lot), talked to teachers about their lessons. When? I mean, we barely get time to teach DT, let alone have someone observe it.

Main issue for me is how much emphasis is on teacher knowledge. We have to be able to talk about how we understand the sequence of lessons from different key stages and year groups into our own, and understand where it's going so we can make sure we cover everything they need to know. It took me all day the other week just to go through history stuff (as subject leader), and I'm only just getting where it all fits in. If I'm (as a teacher) supposed to be able to do that for all other subjects, then there is no chance.

I'm so bored of it all. I'm bored of the word schema, I'm fed up of people waving Rosenshine at me, I'm fed up.

Thought yesterday that I'd quite like to go and design kitchens for Howdens - as in, do the sales. I'd be good at that.

blackcats whoohoo! Fantastic news. Hope you're celebrating tonight

It was also all the changes that ofsted have done with the new inspection framework that pissed me off. All that shit about 'every child makes progress during the 20 minutes we are in your lesson' - which all teachers knew was bollocks, yet were judged on by the alleged 'experts' - and now they've changed it to children knowing more, remembering more and being able to do more. Which, you know... is what teachers could have told them 10 years ago.

I hate them as a concept. All the inspectors I know of (heads at other schools) are twats too, which doens't help.

And there is basically a 50% chance that history is 'deep dived', which means i'm fucked.

This is all a bit sweary. Soz.

Rule we have middle schools packed to the rafters with subject specialists. You would think that would make the kids brilliant at history,science, DT,French etc. It really doesn't.

Music and art I think, yes . Everything else. Meh.

Re the blood pressure. Am just pointlessly sulking and googling.

Apparently I could phone 11 as lola said, who could force them to see me. What kind of silly system is that??

Oh and well done blackcats!

*In another hilarious for teachers moment, I cannot get my bp checked at the chemist opposite my house because covid.

I cannot get a doctor's f2f appt because covid*

Conversation between midwife and I at check up today:

MW: You look tired, are you ok?
Me: Well like I said on the phone I’m very dehydrated, I’ve been drinking five litres of water a day but still thirsty. I’m also dizzy a lot.
MW: Ah well you might have gestational diabetes again.
Me: I guess that. When will I be tested?
MW: Well our trust aren’t running the tests at the moment because of covid. It’s too dangerous.
Me: So can I just carry on as normal, will the baby be ok?
MW: Well no, if you have it we need to monitor you closely.
Me: Ok, so what do I do?
MW: It’s too dangerous to test you because of covid.

It was a very circular conversation.

And there is basically a 50% chance that history is 'deep dived', which means i'm fucked

I’m history, geography and English lead, plus a DSL. May as well get my scuba kit out now.

Yep, everywhere is getting reading deep dives. Our English lead is passionate, but not terribly articulate about her plans or vision. I'd be worried about her in a deep dive conversation.

The last time I was inspected, I was maths lead (and DH). I went into the ofsted chat with the English lead. He was AWFUL. He actually said at one point "We all know that the KS1 results are made up".

a) they were not made up, he had no clue about KS1
b) WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!

I put my hand right up in front of his face to stop him talking and said "Stop, you are speaking from a position of ignorance". Luckily we sort of already had our judgement by then, but really.

I had to stay in the meeting after he left to talk about curriculum stuff that I also did, when I came out he was moaning to the head about how I'd shut him down and been rude. I think the top of my head nearly blew off... silently. Inspector was escorted out, on the way she said to the head that 'your English lead needs developing'. I just said to the head that I'd talk with him about it in the morning because we all needed to go home.

We all went home... then next morning I get in to hear him still going on about this thing in the staffroom to the Head. My head actually blew off at that point.

Rule, why don't you adopt Timeturner's midwife's approach, if you're questioned by Ofsted?

Ofsted: Where is your documentation evidencing lesson observations?
Rule: Haven't got any
Ofsted: Why not.
Rule: Not done any observations.
Ofsted: Why not
Rule: Because Covid.
Ofsted: Where is the evidence showing progress made by every child?
Rule: Haven't got any.
Ofsted: Why not?
Rule: Because Covid.

etc...

Haha.... bonk.

Congrats @13luckyblackcats!

piggy tell them here what you posted on Data re yr local schools and Indian variant - please!

Sorry have made piggy’s news sound exciting and it’s not... more interesting and kinda worrying.

time I'm going to suggest they do something radical for you. Since you have symptoms for gd but it's too dangerous to test you, how about they assume you have it, and treat you accordingly. It will not do you or your baby any harm at all to eat as if you're diabetic, but it will do you/baby harm if you do have it but nothing is done. Did they come up with that plan eventually? All you need is a glucose monitor and a finger pricker. The only remaining piece in the puzzle is the willpower to eat low carb for the remainder of your pregnancy. I had undiagnosed gd with dd2 (they finally decided I should be tested right at the end but said it was too late to make any difference). Dd2 was perfectly healthy though, just huge.