The Sixty Third Republic - as we glide into staycations the DfE whip up anti-school media storm

[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 for school staff to let off steam.

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. Finally, upload your covid test results twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays.

When I have the time and the money, I want to do my PhD looking at how teacher development in the high ranking Pisa countries compares with ours.
I suspect that what passes for CPD in my school wouldn't count for much.

Getting rid of HODs who only give a shit about top sets would be a good start.

The washing machine was me too honey! I tried soda crystals in that, which is presumably the same?

Where do you get a big tub of bicarb from?

MrsH, that thread where a mum is aghast after being informed - via AR Star test results slip, great parental comms (not) - that her DS is, apparently 2 years behind in his reading age is interesting, isn’t it?

I think some of the teachers on it are expecting a lot of a mum! But I had no idea (and I don’t think my boss does either) that the ZPD numbering is based on American school grades! I don’t feel ashamed though, as we’ve had zilch training on it.

I didn't know that about Star Reader either. We don't have AR any more as it was soooooo expensive. The library has been out of use all year so I'm desperate to get kids back in there next term.

I get big tubs of bicarb from the cash and carry.

Ebay Jan. I'd say put a load in the rim then add vinegar and leave it overnight and then run the washing machine empty. I may do that myself actually as mine is a bit scuzzy and I've never found a successful way to deal with it before.

@MrsHamlet in Shanghai they have to do a really large number of CPD hours before graduating from novice teacher. I’ve got it written down somewhere but it was huge number of hours and essentially minimum of 5 years. All their CPD was based on making their lessons more efficient - through TRGs, lesson studies, working with their department and other schools and the university etc…

That's very interesting about how PISA samples are taken. I didn't realise that 15 year olds who aren't in education or who have special needs (defined by their country) weren't included. That explains quite a lot about our long tail, as the vast majority of 15 year olds are in school and we try to avoid funding SEND so a lot of our kids who could potentially be considered to have SEND aren't classified as such.

I've just had a very exciting walk, where I had to phone an ambulance for a man who fell over onto the road just in front of me!!! Luckily the road was empty at the time and a couple of passers by (one of whom was me) managed to help him up onto a bench. I called an ambulance, but the man refused to wait for them and got on his bus to go home. He was using 2 walking sticks, seemed very unsteady on his feet and couldn't talk to answer any of my questions, so I have no idea if he actually needs medical attention or not. Nothing I could do to persuade him to wait to be checked over though.

Well done MrsAD. Did you consider using your teacher voice on the poor old soul? 😆

Sorry, MsAD

There's also a question about what the PISA tests assess. It matches some countries' curricula more closely than others, and (obviously0 doesn't assess what can't be easily assessed in a mass test with a particular format. Children from countries whose curricula match PISA'a closely (whether because this historically is the case; whether by accident; or whether by deliberate design having studied the curriculum tested) will tend to do better. It isn't clear whether the 'PISA-tested' curriculum is a 'good' curriculum for a 15 year old to know about, nor whether it is a good measure of 'general academic preparedness for life / further education', nor indeed whether it is a good measure of 'teaching and education standards'.

@JanFebAnyMonth

Well done MrsAD. Did you consider using your teacher voice on the poor old soul? 😆

I tried, but he was having none of it. The bus driver promised to keep an eye on him and ring an ambulance if he looked like he needed it.

Has anyone seen our potential future schools Tsar getting confused on Twitter today between Lord of the Rings and Lord of the Flies?

Made me chuckle

Who is that then?

@JanFebAnyMonth

The washing machine was me too honey! I tried soda crystals in that, which is presumably the same?

Where do you get a big tub of bicarb from?

MrsH, that thread where a mum is aghast after being informed - via AR Star test results slip, great parental comms (not) - that her DS is, apparently 2 years behind in his reading age is interesting, isn’t it?

I think some of the teachers on it are expecting a lot of a mum! But I had no idea (and I don’t think my boss does either) that the ZPD numbering is based on American school grades! I don’t feel ashamed though, as we’ve had zilch training on it.

If it's based on American grades then add a year. For example year 6 is 5th grade. In the US we start a year later than the UK so kindergarten is 5 year olds turning 6, and so on.

I feel as if I need to buy a massive tub of bicarb. It's good for getting wee smells out of sealant around toilets and vomit smells out of carpet too, I hear.

My mum gave me a small tub of powder I'd given her for some baking, but couldn't remember what it was ("bicarb I think"). It's not bicarb, according to my collapsed banana loaf .

I buy 20l of white vinegar from Amazon and use it instead of fabric conditioner, apart from when I'm washing dc stinky sports kit and I have to get the Dettol laundry cleanser out.

@Appuskidu

Has anyone seen our potential future schools Tsar getting confused on Twitter today between Lord of the Rings and Lord of the Flies?

Made me chuckle

I reckon those kids could have taken Sauron on

US grades seem quite different early on where the work there is easier but then i think they really catch up. Relatives are really ahead there but would be about right here y3.

So if they need to stop vaxxed isolating because 1.7m would be isolating. We may run out of testing capacity again then

Here is a feel good story

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-57670603

What an incredible talent!

@Piggywaspushed

Who is that then?

Katherine Birbalsingh?

Oh, I thought she was going to be Social Mobility Tsar.

Getting knowledge wrong must be v embarrassing for her! Off to Twitter to point and laugh...

@Piggywaspushed

Here is a feel good story

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-57670603

What an incredible talent!

Wonderful! .

Scotland are currently running out of T&T capacity, resorting to text messages for low risk cases, according to a BBC story I read!

That's interesting about white vinegar in the wash Brie - what does it achieve? I've always been a bit confused about fabric softener. I think I've always used all in one type products and now just use tesco non bio own brand liquid. Anything that could 'soften' the crusty toes of ds's socks would be good.

The other thing I buy in bulk is big tubs or sacks of magnesium flakes for adding to the bath and making magnesium oil which is really calming and helps you sleep.

Hi HoneyBadger,

Here's a link to benefits of using vinegar:

www.thespruce.com/top-uses-for-vinegar-in-laundry-2147286

Some people say it eats the seals in the washing machine, but my last machine lasted around 10 years, so not sure if this is the case?

One thing from the article above is to recommend spraying the vinegar directly onto armpits on clothes - I think I'm going to give it a go!

Ooh I could try spraying it on ds's crusty socks. Thanks.