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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Dear Teacher, Please Notice Him

Dear Teacher Last week saw my precious boys first official day at your pre-school.  I dropped him off on Thursday lunchtime and walked home feeling like I was missing an arm.  At 3pm I excitedly came to pick him up and asked you the inevitable question, “How did he get on?” Your response was: “Good as gold, we hardly knew he was here!” With those few words my heart sank and have haunted me ever since.  Your words confirmed one of my greatest fears about my little man entering the education system.  I’m a teacher, I know what happens to the good kids. They spend…

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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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A Few Words That Made My Day

My poor little Year 7 classes are always bottom of my priority list. With three A level and three GCSE classes, they are the two I feel I’m least on the ball with. Maybe I’m being a bit hard on myself, but I always worry my lessons could be better planned, with better resources, their book better marked. However, this year I’ve found these have been the lessons I’ve enjoyed the most. I love the enthusiasm of 11/12 year olds and their innocence. In each of the classes there are a couple of real characters, who really make me smile.…

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My Teaching Magic Moments

I feel at the moment I’m pretty negative most of the time about what I do and sometimes I need to take a step back and remember why I do this job. I do it because I am lucky enough to work with a bloody fantastic group of kids, who make me laugh on a daily basis and when I’m feeling shit will always put a smile on my face. A few of my fave teaching moments: 1. On a residential trip with year 7 we had to clear the tables and chairs at the end of quiz night ready…

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