The Joys Of Being Back At Work!

Can I let you into a little secret? Sometimes, at work, I can be a bit of a moaner. Actually, that’s a big, fat lie. I’m a huge moaner! And then because I’m moaning I get stressed. My one New Years Resolution for this year was to be happy and to achieve this I need to stay a little bit more chilled out. Not it’s easy to be chilled when you’re sat at home in your PJ’s, watching Frozen, with a glass of Baileys whilst stuffing your face with the leftover Christmas chocolate. Being back at work this week has…

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When They Grow Up

I honestly believe I am so lucky to be in the job that I am.  Not necessarily because I have a passion for Maths (although I do really like it, GEEK!), and certainly not for the amount of paperwork and target setting that is involved. The main reason I love my job for the vast majority of the time is that I get to work with an amazing group of people every day.  The kids.  Yes, sometimes they’re hard work, sometimes I may swear a little under my breath to keep me sane but they also make me laugh on…

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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 X-Factor Generation

I work in what was once (before they were scrapped and replaced with Academies and Free Schools) a Performing Arts College. Not actually a college, but a regular school that got a bit of extra money to focus on drama and stuff! As a Maths teacher, drama, dance and art are really not my bag (and if you’ve ever heard me sing you’d know why), and as we were a performing arts school there was always someone singing, or playing music somewhere on site. It can at times be sweet, almost endearing, and formed a big culture of the school.…

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