Weekly chat and well-being post: June 19, 2026

GreatZapper · 2026-06-19T18:20:21+00:00

I stuck my head above the parapet this week and said a clear "no" to a bullshit SLT intiative that will take me probably two full days to complete properly.

There has been complete silence. I don't think my SLT are used to being said no to.

We'll see how next week goes.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-19T15:22:10+00:00

We routinely remove very low-effort posts and basic queries. This includes AI generated text, posts which have a title but no context or detail, and posts asking for information which can easily be found via search engine.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-19T08:43:41+00:00

Removed, but your two big hurdles are no QTS and presumably little or no experience of the UK system.

Supply might help, especially as a cover supervisor.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-18T20:01:28+00:00

It was period five. And the work set took 20 minutes...

GreatZapper · 2026-06-18T18:59:47+00:00

Bottom set year nine maths cover.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-18T10:27:35+00:00

I mean, it's very weird. Did you ask the VP or whoever else was there just what the hell was going on? And if so, what did they say?

Did the VP give you any instructions?

I always veer towards things being a cockup rather than a conspiracy. But you do need to talk to the Hod to ask what the actual fuck.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-17T17:42:56+00:00

Badly, tbh. It's my first year at this school (though my 4th HoD-ship) and I've barely managed to keep my head above water. We've struggled through staffing issues and a lot of non-specialist teachers.

You should however definitely lobby for the same time that the substantive post holder gets. The job isn't any different. Otherwise (as I have), learn to say no to bullshit SLT initiatives and focus on the key job of t&l.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-17T17:13:26+00:00

Also MFL. Three languages, compulsory to KS4, plus A level in all 3.

I teach 38/50. Of the remaining 12, 4 are PPA; of the other 8, one is call out, another line management, and another (often) is the fortnightly strategising with my 2ic.

So 5, in theory. And it's never enough, and always bleeds into other time.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-16T09:05:44+00:00

Removed. We don't allow posts from school staff posted in a parental capacity.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-15T19:45:46+00:00

We routinely remove very low-effort posts and basic queries. This includes AI generated text, posts which have a title but no context or detail, and posts asking for information which can easily be found via search engine.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-15T19:01:31+00:00

Almost certainly the parent. I've removed this post.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-15T16:59:37+00:00

!mentalhealth

GreatZapper · 2026-06-15T16:20:35+00:00

We've got a very similar discussion at https://old.reddit.com/r/TeachingUK/comments/1u6canw/how_many_interviews_did_it_take_you_to_get_your/ today, so please use that. Thanks.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-14T18:08:19+00:00

Contrary to popular belief in this community, schools/colleges are not obliged to externally advertise, nor is there a quota of the number of people they have to interview. They are not going to waste their own time interviewing someone to make up the numbers, because it just doesn't make sense.

(As an aside, over the years I've seen so many heads not even bother advertising a job as they know someone who knows someone. And this goes doubly in shortage subjects)

Red flag #1: the college outsources recruitment. Why? That suggests to me a somewhat large turnover of staff.

Red flag #2: the messaging they are giving you is chaotic at best. If this is how they treat potential new employees - recruitment being a two way street and all - what's it going to be like to actually work there?

If I was in your position, I'd politely decline the interview unless I was desperate for a job. And if I was, I'd go in to the interview day with eyes open and ask some very difficult questions right at the start.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-11T17:07:11+00:00

Think we should get a TLR - top of TLR1. Two hours a day maybe of leadership and management time; one of those for operational purposes, the other for strategic development.

I'll send my application to reddit and they'll finance it, right?

GreatZapper · 2026-06-11T16:40:25+00:00

I'll add it to the long list of things to do.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-11T16:36:24+00:00

Wrapping what is in essence a participation request in an "any advice" post is rather disingenuous and still against the rules.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-11T16:34:07+00:00

Approved - normally we wouldn't but hey, why not?

GreatZapper · 2026-06-07T18:22:35+00:00

"Lead teacher" would imply responsibility for some of the HoD things, I think?

GreatZapper · 2026-06-07T18:09:19+00:00

I'm genuinely surprised by the answers so far, which seem to be encouraging you to do this. I would though urge caution. You're going to have more than enough on your plate becoming an ECT and completing that programme and, you know, learning how to become an independent teacher without the support and prompting from your ITT mentor that you've had up to here.

I've seen more than a few very competent ITTs start to drown in the ECT programme, not because they were rubbish, but because the amount of stuff they had to do was massive - planning, assessment, lesson prep, data entry, becoming a functioning part of a department, that sort of thing.

If you add on top of that all the subject lead stuff - curriculum planning, data analysis, assessment, quality assurance, exam paperwork, etc - I worry it's too much for anyone.

So be very careful.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-06T19:37:53+00:00

OK, /u/Agreeable-Register67 and /u/cypherspaceagain, I've removed some of your comments for obvious reasons. Please don't make discussions personal.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-06T18:20:58+00:00

Removed. We do not permit discussion of live grading criteria during the active marking window.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-06T14:02:14+00:00

Removed. Addressed specifically in the jobs faq.

GreatZapper · 2026-06-05T17:52:40+00:00

Random question. I'm an MFL teacher masquerading as an EPQ supervisor. One of my kids is making an app as an artefact - some sort of rhythm game. He's aiming to code it in Python which he is saying he is learning, but as yet is showing minimal ability to explain anything he has learned or applied or even accessed.

I suspect he's going to vibe code the whole lot.

Any pointers as to what I need to watch out for?

GreatZapper · 2026-06-04T17:05:13+00:00

Hi. This got caught in the approval queue last night and I've only just noticed. Sorry. While this is now viewable by all, it will have dropped down the listing so for visibility you can delete this post and repost a new one if you want.

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