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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

The 69th Staff Republic

392 replies

TheHoneyBadger · 18/12/2021 11:26

Just in time for the Christmas break. As it's the holidays we're allowed chairs and everything. I believe even buffets are permitted currently? No going to see Bond films though obviously.

Stolen from previous threads…
'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:
DreamingofBrie · 24/01/2022 23:11

@namechangedyetagain

Im still here, hanging on. Another one of our ECTs has handed in notice. I'm still considering. I need to see the year out, there are rumblings of moving to a MAT. I love my colleagues and partner teacher. Finding it hard going with no ta (2 weeks now, ill, can't be helped) but really hope i don't get pulled for no progress as I'll probably cry. I'm keeping them alive and they're learning something. I can't physically do much more on my own. Have also been covering duties and mdsa so not even a full break for eating. Luckily or not i myself have been sick this week. Literally body falling apart and im on my knees.
I hope you've had a better day today, name. Please do look after yourself and listen to your body.

I had a Y11 Set 7 in my PGCE days. They weren't going to pass their GCSE Maths. If everyone was honest, it was a successful lesson if you could keep them all in the classroom for the hour - and that wasn't just me, it was any teacher. So the fact that your class is learning something is a good thing.

winewolfhowls · 25/01/2022 17:57

Hope you had a better day today name

eitak22 · 26/01/2022 20:26

Checking in as it's been a while... covid is rampant ar school, we've stopped assemblies and reduced mixing between years. As a staff we've decided to keep masks outside of classroom for adults which is a relief- can't believe everything disappears tomorrow as if it's gone again!

Mistressiggi · 26/01/2022 20:34

That sounds really stressful

DenbyChina · 27/01/2022 05:14

We’re two members of staff down in my department and both feeling really unwell. It’s not magically disappearing like BoJo wants.

BadlydoneHelen · 27/01/2022 07:55

Checking in here too: primary with 2/3 of children off in one class, cases rising in others. 7 of 20 staff members off so wondering how long before we reach our peak.

BadlydoneHelen · 27/01/2022 08:01

That should have said 1/3! Two thirds off would be v v badBlush

eitak22 · 27/01/2022 19:27

We have 2 year groups with no teachers and most missing at least one! It's crazy.

Beachhuts90 · 30/01/2022 14:38

Does anyone in primary here teach a class split between two year groups?

twinkletoesimnot · 30/01/2022 14:46

I teach year 3/4.

Beachhuts90 · 30/01/2022 23:10

@twinkletoesimnot

I teach year 3/4.
Oh!🙂 Do you enjoy teaching 2 levels at once? Is planning more of a nightmare than just teaching 1?
twinkletoesimnot · 31/01/2022 03:44

This year is an odd year. The year 3's especially are much lower than usual, the spread in the class is very wide (y1 - y5 ability wise, so a challenge.)
I work on a 2 year curriculum to make sure I cover everything.
The school I work in is tiny. I currently have less than 20 in my class which really helps. I can imagine it would be harder with more children.
It's nice having them for 2 years, except in the odd case 😂.

Beachhuts90 · 31/01/2022 10:00

Thank you very much for your reply!

Lots to consider as I look at vacancies coming up in my area.

DenbyChina · 01/02/2022 10:36

Fingers crossed you find a good school, beach. I applied for a job last week and still haven’t heard anything. Annoyingly, am slightly upset - application was solid, met the criteria and I’ve got the experience. Urgh.

eitak22 · 01/02/2022 18:02

Covid situation at work no better it's getting worse if anything.

Beach hope you find a job right for you... is this your training year?

Beachhuts90 · 01/02/2022 20:51

Thanks very much denby and eitak! Yes, I'm a trainee. It's a bit early but some jobs are creeping up. The vacancy with some split classes (not all) is at a school everyone says is really lovely, but I think I need to try to visit and see what support they have in place and what the planning is like before I decide to apply. I trust my gut feeling but I don't have enough information about that school to have a feeling either way yet.

Beachhuts90 · 01/02/2022 20:52

@DenbyChina

Fingers crossed you find a good school, beach. I applied for a job last week and still haven’t heard anything. Annoyingly, am slightly upset - application was solid, met the criteria and I’ve got the experience. Urgh.
That's so frustrating, I'm sorry! Their enormous loss.
DenbyChina · 02/02/2022 06:28

Thank you beach. That’s a lovely thing to say!

Mistressiggi · 02/02/2022 06:41

Denbychina, maybe the person who's supposed to be looking at applications if off with you-know-what?

Beachhuts90 · 02/02/2022 07:18

@Mistressiggi

Denbychina, maybe the person who's supposed to be looking at applications if off with you-know-what?
That's a good point--i replied while very tired and missed that denby hadn't heard back yet. I bet lots of things like this get delayed right now.
echt · 04/02/2022 08:17

Though retired, as I'm on long service leave, I am an employee and still have access to the school's systems: Bwahhhahahaha.😆

I'm trusted not to run amok deleting everything.

More pertinent was that on the first day back last week, I had 'phone calls and emails from colleagues I had not seen on my last day. So touching. Smile

Beachhuts90 · 08/02/2022 19:50

I'm really crawling to half term after today 😑 Even outside of various things in the classroom that are a bit stressy I am finding it hard to redo all my display boards, update provision plans, compile their data in 3 subject areas to submit for review to SLT...I really wish we had an inset day so I could get stuff done that needs to be in person.

CarrieBlue · 08/02/2022 22:46

I was genuinely disappointed that it wasn’t a snow day today. I just need sleep!

cornercupboard · 09/02/2022 07:12

Our year 6 have gone into a bubble so they don't come into whole school worship, and eat their lunch in class, play separately. About a third of the year group have Covid including one teacher and a 1:1 TA, the other teachers and both class TAs have already had it, one twice.

But we're still having a learning walk today and being nagged about display backing being the "wrong" colour. Hmm

Beachhuts90 · 09/02/2022 07:14

What's the right colour? We have one right colour but that makes my life slightly easier as I don't have to back my boards every time I change a display.