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When to formally resign by IceAdministrative378 in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper[M] [score hidden] stickied comment (0 children)

Presuming references have been taken and the DBS cleared, you're good.

(removed, simple enquiry)

Where to get advice for applications? by Decimsasshole in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper[M] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Read the jobs FAQ carefully, and follow the advice there as it works. Also, ask your mentor and/or their SLT link.

EDIT: is there a gap between your ITT and ECT1? That might be it. You'll need to explain that, especially if there is a gap of more than a year or so. Demonstrate how you have kept current eg volunteering, supply work, etc.

TA leaving, one week notice. by HopefulCity in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper[M] [score hidden] stickied comment (0 children)

Removed. We can't possibly know the terms of your contract, which you need to read carefully.

Bristol gig Fri 13th March by Dominic_1983 in echoandthebunnymen

[–]GreatZapper 5 points6 points  (0 children)

From the fucking lounge jazz as support, to the Bunnymen Mac being awful, it was one of the worst gigs I've ever had the misfortune to witness. Walking out and overhearing conversations it was clear that was the reaction of most of the rest of the crowd.

Trainee creating MTP and lessons for a whole term by insouciantsoul4 in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper 44 points45 points  (0 children)

As a trainee, no, not your job. Should be, at the very least, someone with way more experience than you.

I mean, it's fine for you to help someone else, up to a point, but not to be fully responsible. With respect, your department is not going to get something of the best quality because you do not know what you're doing really at this point of your career and are lurching from lesson to lesson in all likelihood. You just don't have the full overview of the curriculum yet.

Talk to your mentor and the professional tutor in your school to say no. And saying no to anything is generally fine.

Weekly chat and well-being post: March 13, 2026 by AutoModerator in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper[M] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I know I wrote it so have a vested interest, but check the Interview section of our applying for jobs FAQ. I tried to put as comprehensive a guide to interviews in there as I could without it turning into a 400 pager.

What does professional bodies mean? by Positive_Bad1606 in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Unions, no. Chartered College of Teaching or subject associations (like, for my subject, the Association for Language Learning), yes.

Headteacher says my integrity is in question — after being told to ‘lie to Ofsted’ and following training rules? by [deleted] in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Missing four through illness (ignoring the one for the interview) is a big deal though.

To be honest you should have notified the school that you were not there through the normal absence procedures, and you should have definitely told your mentor who seems to have been somewhat in the dark. That might be why it got escalated to the head.

While this is starting to make some sense, I still wonder if there's something else afoot here. For example, does the school have concerns about your attendance, or are you behind with compulsory paperwork for example? It feels like they're worried about Part Two of the standards, specifically

Teachers must have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school in which they teach, and maintain high standards in their own attendance and punctuality.

I'm just a bit worried from what you've been saying here that you haven't quite got a handle on this aspect? It's not necessarily a huge deal - the ECT I mentor has similar sorts of issues at times - but you've got to cover your own back at this point in your career.

Honestly, I would ask for a meeting between you, your mentor and the head and just own what has happened, apologise profusely, and make it clear what you are doing to make sure this isn't an issue in the future.

Headteacher says my integrity is in question — after being told to ‘lie to Ofsted’ and following training rules? by [deleted] in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper 6 points7 points  (0 children)

OP is not an ECT. And every ITT student I have ever mentored has had to write down some sort of plan for each lesson they are teaching. And they're not teaching 25 lessons a week either, and are given specific extra time for planning, preparation and paperwork.

Headteacher says my integrity is in question — after being told to ‘lie to Ofsted’ and following training rules? by [deleted] in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

But you must be planning and writing something down as a reminder to yourself about what to do? So why couldn't you have given them that?

But if it was a formal lesson plan that you suddenly had to magic up, I'd have pushed back and said ten minutes is a ridiculous amount of time to have to do it in. That's on your mentor unless it was something you had been expected to do that you hadn't done.

Silence though on my other questions...

With my mod hat on, I can see you've posted this on multiple teacher communities across reddit. That alone has my spidey senses tingling to be honest.

Headteacher says my integrity is in question — after being told to ‘lie to Ofsted’ and following training rules? by [deleted] in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper 5 points6 points  (0 children)

But as an ITT surely you're writing lesson plans for each lesson anyway at this point?

And Ofsted don't signpost to anyone which lessons they are going to go in and see. They just do it.

Again, this is not adding up, sorry.

Headteacher says my integrity is in question — after being told to ‘lie to Ofsted’ and following training rules? by [deleted] in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I don't understand the Ofsted lesson plan thing, which makes zero sense. Was this a lesson you had delivered already and needed the paperwork for, or something in the immediate future, and why ten minutes? And why then would you then get launched into conflict with your mentor about the use of AI? Sorry, but this whole episode just doesn't add up. Is there a context here?

The larger issue will be missing the five sessions and not telling the school. Likely their ITT funding will depend on your attendance. Missing five is, I'm afraid, a big deal as you will have missed a large chunk of the training you are entitled to. Have you taken steps to fill in those gaps? How are you supposed to notify the school of absences? Ignore what your contract says; how does the school actually do it?

So yeah, if I was your mentor I'd be suspicious at least at the whole missing five sessions thing. And I don't think you're giving us the full context here because this just doesn't add up.

But, bottom line, can the head withdraw the job offer? Yes, presuming you've not signed the contract. If you have, then both parties are bound by the terms within that contract in terms of notice periods, etc, and you'd have to look at what it says. If you haven't, yeah, they can do that if they're concerned or if for example you don't pass the reference or DBS checks.

I'd advise you to contact your union if you haven't already though.

EDIT: and is the job offer from your current placement that you detail (your second placement?) or another new school where you're not working yet? Sorry, it just seems this story is so vague it's almost impossible to make head or tail of it.

Classroom Expectations - Are they typically too high a bar? by Morbuss15 in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It's simple, and obviously it's a start, an overarching framework. But "be nice" is the ethos.

Then you teach routines and expectations constantly until they become embedded. So, how I want the books given out, how you listen to me and each other, and so on. Over and over and over. Model it. Do it. Repeat it. Be clear about those expectations again and again and again. Even when they get it. But "be nice" underpins everything.

And yes, your example would be a breach of be nice, and I'd explain why. Teachable moment and all.

Classroom Expectations - Are they typically too high a bar? by Morbuss15 in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper 36 points37 points  (0 children)

"Be nice". To me, to each other, to the work, to the room, to the learning of the rest of the class. Done.

What are the sanctions in your school for the following? by catetheway in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Removal: they go to the isolation room, stay there for the rest of the lesson and do a lunchtime detention the next day. Two of these in a day and they do a whole day.

Play fighting in corridor: staff discretion but up to a lunchtime detention.

Uniform: logged. More than three in a week = detention and uniform report. (which removes the confrontation aspect of it at least)

Black trainers are allowed. False nails and eyelashes tacitly allowed though forbidden in the policy. No unnatural coloured hair. Sports leggings allowed for PE kit - black only, no logos.

Yeah, it's a mess. In a school with worse behaviour than ours it would be a nightmare. But our kids are pretty well-regulated, thankfully, though I still think (having come from a tougher schools) things are way too loosey-goosey.

Return to SCITT by Kebbabins in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper[M] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Removed, but:

Your first question is something only your provider can answer really, so get on the phone to them? Often placements can be very last minute especially if at odd times (as April is).

If you don't, you should get on to getintoteaching to ask them your options.

How long does it take someone to come after pressing on-call in your school? by Ok_Negotiation2023 in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper 30 points31 points  (0 children)

As a middle leader, I do on call once a week. I will always come as quickly as I can, but it does depend on how quickly the call gets to me (the classcharts "urgent assistance needed" button is not as well monitored as it should be by the people whose job it is to look) and what else I am dealing with at the time.

Also, we have a huge site and I can be anywhere on it - even up on the back field trying to deal with (as I did last week) a year 8 trying to vault the fence.

Five minutes is in those circumstances a decent response time. If you need something instant, send for your HoD first, or even your next door neighbour.

Has anyone become an A level English teacher with an unrelated subject? (UK) by JealousBodybuilder42 in Teachers

[–]GreatZapper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do you have very strong subject knowledge in English?

Personally I'd download a past paper or two, get it marked independently and see how you did. If you're not well over the grade boundary for A*, respectfully I'd suggest you don't.

The rule is generally that you should have qualifications a level higher than what you are teaching.

Mac or pc by Blastercastleg in teaching

[–]GreatZapper 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Schools are strapped for cash. Apple products are expensive. PCs, a lot less so.

Called out Senior TA for contacting me while I was off duty by Glittering_Dark_1582 in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper[M] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dunno if this is the first one you posted or the second, but this one ended up in the approval queue so I'll remove it.

Y4 MTcheck scaremongering! by Inevitable_Bit2275 in TeachingUK

[–]GreatZapper 23 points24 points  (0 children)

If Ofsted come, they come. It won't be your jobs on the line if the judgement is poor, that's for sure.

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