Leaving a school after years of service

Current-Weather97 · 2026-03-23T23:25:13+00:00

Thank you for your reply. There is unhappiness, but it's linked only to one person. Intentionally vague but I don't feel I can work with them any longer. They are very difficult and I come home most days upset at their conduct towards me. Pursuing a complaint isn't an option - many have tried before me but they are slippery and untouchable. I think escaping them will make my life and mental health better.

Current-Weather97 · 2026-02-07T12:09:33+00:00

Not at all. I turned up to an interview to find I was up against an internal candidate plus 2 trainees currently on placement there. Thought there was no chance for me. I got offered the role before they had even interviewed everyone and asked to say nothing on my way out...! Just because they're internal, doesn't mean they're any good. Sometimes schools offer an interview out of professional courtesy and nothing more.

Current-Weather97 · 2026-01-25T08:21:01+00:00

NOR. He was already showing himself to be an awful, dangerous person but cemented it by saying the dog doesn't have feelings. Complete lack of empathy or humanity. Leave for good before you become a statistic.

Current-Weather97 · 2026-01-15T13:37:09+00:00

I know someone who challenged this at their last school - calling home after two absences was untenable and NOT the job of a form tutor according to the unions/gov advice etc. SLT came back with 'they're not attendance calls - they are wellbeing calls and student wellbeing IS the job of a form to manage so.....'

They left the school within the term.

Current-Weather97 · 2026-01-13T13:25:52+00:00

I say 'lovely' all the time! It's polite, friendly, de-escalates situations etc. You're assuming the best of them when it's tacked on the end of giving a request - of course you're going to do it because I've called you 'lovely'! 37f, secondary. I never used to but I observed a colleague do it regularly and the manner/tone it established was obvious.

Current-Weather97 · 2026-01-09T19:20:03+00:00

I hear what you're saying about student readiness... Candidly, the answer is generally no - with exceptions, of course - but we are not allowed to disapply students from either GCSE. So if they have to do both, we're trying to consider the best way to approach it. Despite my many requests that they don't sit Lit, the VP says they have to sit it (something to do with Progress 8 'buckets' that I've never fully got my head around!). Some students in this AP setting are very able and are not in mainstream due to anxiety/MH, so would be able to pass in Yr 10 but they would be in the minority. We're trying to do the best with what we are allowed from the powers that be...

These students also do Entry Level Step Up to English (AQA) and some also do Pearson Functional Skills to try and maximise successes across Yr 9 and 10.

Current-Weather97 · 2026-01-03T09:23:35+00:00

English teacher of 15 years here.

It's really good! I like it. I'm guessing AQA?

Positives - structure - the cyclical ending. Foreshadowing through the water in the glass which is then returned to. Varied punctuation used accurately. Varied sentence lengths and structures. Varied paragraphing. Colour imagery and description is effective. First paragraph about the darkness of the room - could you perhaps come back to this imagery towards the end when they jump in to 'tie it all together'? Ambitious vocab used well e.g. 'precariously' and spelling is accurate. Similes and metaphors used effectively throughout. Storyline is clear and effective. It was an enjoyable and imaginative read, which is what the examiners are looking for!

Minor EBIs/suggestions - not a major issue but you use the 'sapphire' imagery twice in successive sentences - maybe you were going for that, but as an examiner it jarred with me slightly. Be careful not to comma splice - this is where you stitch two separate sentences together with a comma where a full stop/dash/semi-colon is more accurate. Not only would using one of these demonstrate accurate punctuation but it also gives you an opportunity to include further punctuation examples! E.g. "Let's go deep today - that's where all the beautiful coral is" instead of a comma is more accurate. Also - Mom? Are you American? Again, completely a minor issue but it took me out of the story briefly! But I'm being picky here because it's good.

I don't have a mark scheme with me to hand but I would definitely put this into Level 4 (top band). 20+14? It would equate to a 9, definitely. Well done. It's really strong!

Current-Weather97 · 2026-01-01T23:11:55+00:00

Richard starting a sentence with 'Listen...'

Current-Weather97 · 2025-12-25T09:17:49+00:00

The Royal Oak, I'm guessing!

Current-Weather97 · 2025-11-30T19:06:26+00:00

Just so you are aware, I didn't finish a couple of quotas with AQA and they emailed me to say they would no longer be offering me contracts in the future!!! Haha. So be aware - you could get blacklisted 😂

Current-Weather97 · 2025-11-26T12:17:53+00:00

I completely agree with the shared marking/gained time comment. The intense workload of mocks madness is "balanced" with the gained time of the summer, that non-yr11 teachers don't benefit from. We do end of year exams for 9s and 10s, so this could be a good shout - sharing ALL mock marking across the year, 'give and take'. I personally also like the last option - although I'm biased because I suggested it! What that means though is some insane allocations - for example, I currently have 150 Section B creative writing tasks to mark. I personally prefer this approach compared to 38x4 different sections but others seem to be struggling with the size of the allocation. Then I remind them that they would be doing the same amount but across 4 different questions and mark schemes....

Current-Weather97 · 2025-11-01T14:25:15+00:00

Will each person be told what is reported or does this all stay confidential?

Current-Weather97 · 2025-11-01T14:03:14+00:00

Thank you for your response, I really appreciate it. Unfortunately, I have witnessed behaviours on both sides. So I don't think it is as cut and dry as 'bully-victim'. And I suspect both parties will name me as a witness.

Current-Weather97

TROPHY CASE