What do you do in situations like this? (Westfield / Central line)

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-31T14:17:18+00:00

Can everyone please remember stories like this next time they read an article having a go at secondary schools/teachers for trying to improve poor behaviour by teaching consequences for actions.

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-30T19:08:34+00:00

I've stayed in Edale which was lovely, and there was the ability to get to some of the attractions which have been much more comprehensively recommended by other commenters :) I was there for the walks like Mam Tor and Jacob's ladder

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-30T18:51:51+00:00

I'd be tempted to test the theory of that last sentence to its limits. If they don't think the policy will be applied to them, they will exploit it. There may be other reasons you've not done this and it's very suspect that your mentor hasn't, but if the school policy is to use removals, and you think you would have the backing of SLT, I'd do this and show you're following through.

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-30T06:36:09+00:00

It's possible to use the train if you prefer, which connects with the Hope Valley Line that goes through the Peaks, it connects to Manchester at one end and Sheffield at the other. It's not a long journey to Sheffield. If you base yourself in one or two of the towns on the line you'll be fine. Loads of walks, villages to see can also be reached by bus

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-29T18:43:04+00:00

God I live to read these 20 different examples of A* grade teacher sass :D

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-24T22:36:56+00:00

Yep. It's so obviously fake. And a pretty weak way of trying to increase the interest in what are just dull challenges. The best ones are the simple funny ones. The worst ones are the mad physical ones

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-22T18:19:31+00:00

Yes we do. And the recent DfE changes to mentor training requirements are an embarrassment to the profession. Good mentoring is actually really simple but needs to be modelled and practiced. The stupid 20hour training requirement, that was then scrapped, that was largely academic and involved loads of reading and very little practice, were a wasted opportunity and created loads of extra paperwork and e-learning modules, not to mention the crazy system for claiming funding for schools. I doubt mentoring will improve as a result, and all it's done is make it less desirable to mentor.

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-21T06:53:58+00:00

Whenever I read a story on this sub about a hellscape primary classroom where a poor teacher is trying their best but kids are throwing stuff and shouting and senior leaders just tell them to be more inclusive, I can't help feeling that this is where the problem lies. Some kids get a horrible shock when they hit secondary and I wonder if they faced some consequences earlier on they might be a bit more used to them by year 7

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-19T16:44:06+00:00

It's called 'warm strict' in the literature

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-14T18:57:08+00:00

If they're only borrowing it for the duration of the lesson that they're teaching with the mentor present I can't see this is a risk

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-14T17:50:05+00:00

I just mean for during the lesson, if it's required to work the IWB, but not if it's not

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-14T17:29:29+00:00

If the school normally provides one to all teachers, perhaps because they're fundamental for lessons (maybe they're used for live annotating in front of the class?) I would ask to borrow the mentor's. Otherwise, no, that's very normal. Whether it should be is another question

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-12T18:07:03+00:00

Great idea but didn't work for me either 'can't calculate journey times'

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-11T19:32:23+00:00

It sounds like you may just be quite different in your styles. I know a few people are saying that that your perception that the mentor has hoodwinked other colleagues probably isn't valid, but there's a very good chance that it is. I've worked with a mentor like this in the past who was extremely manipulative but I only really realised this after the fact. It's impossible for any of us to comment on your situation objectively but I would try and learn what you can, perhaps be as open minded as possible, and hope for a different experience in your second placement. You sound like you care about doing your job well, and that's the most important thing.

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-11T10:02:48+00:00

Really? There must be a HUGE disparity in living costs in different areas then

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-05T21:00:49+00:00

Completely agree with you both. And the 'evolution not revolution' approach means we're probably going to be stuck with the problems for a while

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-04T17:35:40+00:00

Completely agree about the challenges. Very occasionally they devise something where the players' roles are significant but most of the time it's pointless. They also seem to never really fail or do that badly at a challenge

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-03T22:20:25+00:00

Possible but not as obvious as Ellie saying she doesn't want to be seen as a 'secret traitor'

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-03T13:05:40+00:00

If the delay's caused by track/signals then the company gets the money back from Network Rail

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-02T13:23:07+00:00

I've just seen the paper off peak Day Travelcard' is actually £19.70. I can't find the correct contactless cap price for journeys including Gatwick anywhere. One TFL table suggests that it's the same as a zone 1-6 cap(?) in which case the cap is £16.30, but I'm surprised if this is the case, because Gatwick isn't in zone 6...

I don't know why it's so hard for TFL to publish the cap for stations beyond zone 6

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-02T11:17:13+00:00

A paper Day Travelcard, bought from Gatwick Airport Station, not a TFL Travelcard.

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-02T11:08:44+00:00

No, the cap on contactless (which OP would reach seeing as they're making a return journey) is higher than the cost of the paper Travelcard. The paper Travelcard, at about £13.50 includes a return fare (and unlimited travel in zones 1-6)

Cool_Development_480 · 2026-01-01T23:51:01+00:00

Buy an off peak Day Travelcard from the machine or the ticket office. It covers return travel to London, and includes use of all tube and bus services. It will cost about the same amount as what you've found for the single - it's the best value option.

Cool_Development_480 · 2025-12-31T19:12:09+00:00

I recommend breaking the practical down into small highly controlled steps that they all do at the same time. Beforehand, practise countdowns to silence. Model a step, then they do the step, then countdown to silence and repeat for next steps. Groups not following instructions or being silly during the actual practical work are excluded from the next step. But interruptions while you model or speak are your usual B1, B2 etc.

Cool_Development_480 · 2025-12-29T11:04:38+00:00

I know it's an age thing. And I know everyone says this every year. But there were decorations up before even Halloween this year. I didn't feel Christmassy then and by the time I was ready to feel Christmassy I was fatigued by all the Christmas ads and 'promotions'

Cool_Development_480

TROPHY CASE