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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

Sixty Seventh Republic - under temporary guardianship

999 replies

Hercisback · 03/10/2021 21:18

In the absence of staff and her fabulous thread titles and witty openers here is a 67th thread. The broom cupboard is overflowing so time for another Republic. Hopefully we hear from staff soon.

Stolen from thread 66.
'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.'

OP posts:
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25
HarrietDVane · 21/10/2021 23:57

@DrMadelineMaxwell

Definitely not easy setting the same stuff in primary for those at home.

Not that they bloody do what we've spent valuable time preparing and sending, in my experience, despite emailing to ask for it!

So true, DrM! It's a bit soul destroying, isn't it?
RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 22/10/2021 06:32

@DrMadelineMaxwell

Definitely not easy setting the same stuff in primary for those at home.

Not that they bloody do what we've spent valuable time preparing and sending, in my experience, despite emailing to ask for it!

That's my main issue. Takes me 90 minutes + either a phone call or home delivery to get the work to them, then they don't do it. That's more 1-1 attention a kid would get in a normal classroom in 5 days I reckon on average. How can you do that if you've got 10 kids off.
DanglingMod · 22/10/2021 06:51

Same in secondary in a lot of subjects, practical ones especially. Being hassled all the time for work for kids with Covid. Hours spent creating it, uploading it or photocopying for a pack to go home. I've had one out of 35 odd do any work I've set this term.

echt · 22/10/2021 06:52

Here in Victoria we're getting back to school after lockdown, with masks on indoors and out, open windows, air purifiers, etc.

The interesting thing is that students in the exam year (there only state exams in the last year of secondary education, no GCSE equivalent) who are primary contacts for Covid, are allowed in the building to take their exams. They'll be in one room and staff have the full Monty blue PPE suits, etc.

However, in the past, no teacher was allowed to invigilate such an exam. Unsurprisingly, suitably approved externals are thin on the ground Hmm so suddenly, ta da! teachers are good to go on this so long they don't invigilate a subject they taught that year.

Iamnotthe1 · 22/10/2021 06:53

@JanglyBeads

Oh TN’s agony isn’t it, I’m sorry.

Yes how could primary possibly give “the same” work as in class.

We do. I have my class in front of me and my isolating members joining via Zoom. I have to teach both at the same time and then have the same work available on a digital platform so they can access it whilst those in class complete it. The only lesson where we do different things is P.E.
Appuskidu · 22/10/2021 09:06

I have spent the last hour wondering what TN is and I’m none the wiser with Google! I hope it’s nothing too serious.

Half term at last now-thank goodness. Hoping I manage to somehow win the lottery before the 31st so I can resign…!!

Fenelladepompom · 22/10/2021 10:32

Same, Appu (re first para).

KatherineofGaunt · 22/10/2021 12:43

@motherrunner

We’re still teaching every lesson via teams as well as in class until told not to do so.

I had messages id complaint from parents when logged on to my emails today as the cover teachers Mom-Weds didn’t start teams meetings for the lessons the were covering for me - which is obviously my fault.

That's rubbish, @motherrunner. If you're not in school, what do they expect you to do?! Idiots.
DollyMixtureLulus · 22/10/2021 17:02

Hello all. We have a chickenpox outbreak currently, which is a welcome break from the Covid Hmm

13luckyblackcats · 22/10/2021 17:19

First half-term done!! I am so tired. Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

ChloeDecker · 22/10/2021 17:42

Happy Half Term-yes!!!!

mother that does worry me about the expectations that are being born out of continuing home lessons/providing work if a pupil is ill, whilst also teaching face to face. If a child is ill, they are ill and should rest and get better.
The workload expectations are getting too much again (inc. the knock on effect of expecting staff to work from home if sick)

eitak22 · 22/10/2021 18:33

Happy Half term everyone! Hope you manage to relax and that you avoid illness as much as possible.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 22/10/2021 18:41

@Appuskidu

I have spent the last hour wondering what TN is and I’m none the wiser with Google! I hope it’s nothing too serious.

Half term at last now-thank goodness. Hoping I manage to somehow win the lottery before the 31st so I can resign…!!

It's trigeminal neuralgia Appuskidu. Facial nerve pain.
Appuskidu · 22/10/2021 19:28

Ouch-that sounds painful, thank you for telling me what it stood for.

Hope everyone has Cake, Wine, Brew or Gin and is beginning to enjoy the R+R Flowers

MrsHamlet · 22/10/2021 19:36

I have gin. All is well with the world.

JanglyBeads · 22/10/2021 20:51

I have a friend who had it and have also heard a radio programme on it - TN = horrendous pain that nothing can shift, correct DrM?

AnInspectorBores · 22/10/2021 21:06

We had a minor mutiny about dual teaching. We were expected to do it, on vague assurances from parents that children would log in "if they felt up to it." The final straw was when a couple of kids had the day off because a pet had been PTS, and we were expected to invite them to Google Meets. Various viewpoints were expressed; that it was creating a culture of presenteeism; that it was stressful for teachers; that lessons were often unsuitable for dual teaching; that we would be teaching kids in Tenerife if we didn't make stand. Rather surprisingly, the Head backed us and told the parents that work would be posted online but that there would be no GMs Shock

winewolfhowls · 22/10/2021 21:45

Happy half term all you good people.
I'm so tired i don't know what to do with myself!

DreamingofBrie · 22/10/2021 22:19

Wishing everyone who starts half term today a restful one with good health, gin and whatever you wish for.

We're hopefully going to London next week for a few days, provided noone else tests positive. Ds wants to go to the Imperial War Museum and I have a show (re)booked with dd. Fingers crossed!

DrMadelineMaxwell · 22/10/2021 22:40

That's correct jangly. Horrendous indeed.
Mine is caused by an artery rubbing on the nerve in my brain so there could be an op but they tend to avoid brain surgery if they can.
And the parent of a child I once taught went for the op and had a heart attack and nearly died on the table....then caught meningitis. So I take anti epilepsy meds that mostly calm it down and that will do. They have a weird side effect of ruining my spelling and handwriting!

It does get triggered to flare up in the colder months or if I'm run down or if I exercise.

Happy days to all those who have reached half term. I'm not celebrating being clear until we leave for our city break after thinking I'd made it to the summer and then being told my bubble had burst on the first day of the hols.

WhenSheWasBad · 23/10/2021 07:44

Thanks Jangly my 10 year old talks a lot about Squid Game. She’s not allowed to watch it but she’s heard all about it.

She’s not distressed at all by the idea of it (which is alarming in it’s self).

Happy half term everyone. I managed to have a big argument with DH last night. We don’t normally argue but he really pissed me off over something minor (was more the fact he never apologises for anything ever).

Is it normal to argue with your other half at the end of term?

AttaGirrrrl · 23/10/2021 09:39

I found my DS watching a YouTube video about Squid Game last night and panicked. He was very reassuring. Showed me where the kid friendly settings I had set up were and explained it was a Minecraft version and that he wouldn’t watch the real thing. It’s obvious they’re talking about it in school though. He’s primary age.

My half term has started perfectly. I bought the kettle to bed with me last night Grin so I haven’t had to get up yet. I plan to spend a few days moving this slowly before attempting anything remotely interesting.

ChloeDecker · 23/10/2021 10:03

No Shit Sherlock.

People working in the education sector are more likely to test positive for Covid than any other sector due to high infection levels among school children, the @ONS has revealed

Sixty Seventh Republic - under temporary guardianship
KatherineofGaunt · 23/10/2021 10:49

I bought the kettle to bed with me last night

@AttaGirrrrl Excellent forward-planning!!!