Honesty Is The Best Policy

Marking, e-safety and behaviour. These three are a mere snippet of the policies necessary to allow a school to run consistently and smoothly. Perhaps the most important policy, though, is one of honesty. Throughout my NQT year, I've been struck by the benefits of just simply telling the truth to enable myself, other staff members,…

Success Criteria for a Staff Social

I've been relatively quiet on the blogging front for the past couple of weeks. This is partly due to the excitement of half term taking over my very soul. However, it's also because my brain has been a little pre-occupied by pre-hosting nerves. (Or, perhaps more accurately, overwhelming panic.) My worries were the typical 'What…

“You Can Read!?”

"You can read!?" cried one of my students, rather incredulously, today. I'd just finished a discussion with a group in guided reading which had come to a natural conclusion so I decided to join in with the independent reading myself for fifteen minutes until lunchtime. I grabbed my book from my bag, popped on my sunglasses…

ITAF – Interim Teacher Assessment Framework or Inanely Ticking Any Features? My thoughts on the end of KS2 writing assessment.

"Okay, your time is up. Please put your pencils down and close your booklets. Well done Year 6 teachers; you have survived the SATS," utters the invigilator matter-of-factly. All the teachers breathe out a sigh - or whimper - of relief. As they grin around the classroom, giving thumbs up to their fellow comrades, a…

It’s About Time

8 weeks. 40 school days. That’s all that stands between me and the completion of my NQT year.  I’m excited and relieved to see the summer holidays waving at me from the finish line with the promise of sunshine, lie-ins and no desperate home raids for green and orange highlighters to satisfy the marking policy. However,…

Teaching with Anxiety and Depression

Introduction I don't tend to dabble in serious matters very often but, as it's Mental Health Awareness Week, and it's almost a year since my diagnosis, I think now is an appropriate time to discuss my experiences with mental health so far. If my reflections upon this topic can reassure someone or encourage at least one…

The Car Boot Sale Vlog ft. PGCE Course Manager

One of my pupils called me ancient the other day. (Clearly they are unfamiliar with the definition of the word.) So, I'm getting with the times and making a vlog. Join me as I recount my exhilarating experience at an Essex car boot sale. I got a variety of great (and some questionable) resources from…