Why I’ll Never Be Outstanding!

Once upon a time in the not to distant past I strived to be an outstanding teacher. I wanted to be the inspirational educator students told their future kids about. Okay, I was young and naive back then but it was where I aimed to be. After 13 years in the job I now know that, according to Ofsted criteria, I will never be outstanding and for the following reasons: 1. I don’t care about QMA (Quality Mark Assesment) sheets being completed in their books. I have taught them, marked their books, marked their tests, returned their tests with feedback…

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Can We Go Home Yet?

The snow has finally arrived! Outside it’s coming down thick and fast and I’m watching it from the cosiness of my front room, feeling very thankful that today is my day off. In teaching there are many things that can lead your carefully planned lesson astray; last night’s Facebook kick-off, a puppy love quarrel (and the subsequent tears that come with it), someone accidentally calling you Mum. But nothing compares to the complete derailment that is snow! Forget trying to teach them anything, your lesson is literally out of the window! It starts as soon as the first few flakes…

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More Than Just A Target

Back when I was at 6th form college I remember asking my teachers what my target grades were for my A-levels.  I was in the middle of applying to university and as each course had varying requirements it would have been useful to know what my actual target grades were to make sure I was applying to places I had a reasonable chance of being accepted at. My schools policy was not to allow students access to them.  Obviously the stroppy 17 year old that I was then moaned and whinged, but they stood firm and to this day I…

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The Truth About Teachers Pets

“Miss, who’s your favourite?” I get asked this question on a fairly regular basis and the official party line is that there are no favourites. I like all my students equally. Now, let me share a little secret with you…that isn’t quite true. Every now and then a pupil comes along who I develop a bit of a soft spot for. Over the past twelve years there have been quite a few students who fall into this category: The A-level student whose work was so amazingly neat (Paperchase notepad, answers highlighted and pre-marked) I photocopied it to show the rest of…

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The Final Countdown

In less than 4 weeks time thousands of Year 11 pupils across the country will be starting their study leave. For many of those students they will already have sat quite a few of their exams as it all kicks off 2 weeks on Monday. Scary stuff!! The kids are now starting to panic as it dawns on them that the past 5, no 11, years of schooling have been building up to these next few weeks. I love this time of year. It’s hectic, it’s mad busy, but there’s a different kind of buzz about school. Suddenly the after…

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