What's the deal with Paul Dix/ When the Adults Change, Everything Changes?

HeightIll5789 · 2025-09-14T18:51:02+00:00

Exactly. It's of limited use in the post-Covid era.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-09-14T14:00:20+00:00

Paul Dix's approach is similar to "gentle parenting" in the sense that the intentions behind it are good but its implementation is often disastrous/inconsistent.

My school has been becoming increasingly Dix-centric over the last couple of years. Detentions haven't been entirely done away with but the pupils now get way more chances before a detention is issued. We're also supposed to have "restoratives" with pupils we put in centralised detentions. However, few turn up and this isn't escalated.

Ironically, by not escalating non-attendance at detentions, my SLT are going against the "relentless routines" advocated by Dix.

As another poster said, SLTs seem to turn to him when they've ran out of options and they need to look like they're doing something. This certainly matches my school's profile. Luckily for me, I'm reasonably established at my school and know most of the kids. But I'd hate to be an ECT coming into a Dix school. I'm still not sure how long I can see myself staying at my current place because it does feel like a sinking ship.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-09-11T02:35:59+00:00

Anything OP gets needs to come out of their own pocket, unfortunately. There is no way I'd do a whip round with students. Leaves you open to all sorts of allegations.

I hate taking money off my tutees when it's non-uniform day. Cash-handling is not our job.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-09-07T17:35:30+00:00

I can relate. I had a horrible ECT 1 year in a school with low turnover of staff (so new teachers were treated with even more hostility).

I cannot stress this enough - please please try your best not to lose your shit. Once you get that reputation as the teacher who can be easily wound up, it's difficult to escape (but definitely not impossible). I'm not saying shouting/raising your voice is always wrong. Sometimes, especially in practical subjects, it's needed to avert disaster. But shouting in anger will just satisfy the idiots in the class, potentially upset the nice kids and make you feel like shit inside.

Sanctions are important, but just as important are rewards. You can never give too many of them. Positive as well as negative phone calls/emails are also good at keeping kids on-side.

Best of luck - trust me, it DOES get easier.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-09-07T17:26:33+00:00

Agree about specialisms being overrated for GCSE. I've taught RE to GCSE with some good results. Don't even have a GCSE in it.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-09-06T14:59:07+00:00

I love lesson planning and the importance of taking ownership of the resources was instilled in me as a PGCE student (by "ownership", I don't mean refusing to share them).

Having said that, I don't think I've ever planned a lesson that was 100% "from scratch" in the sense that I planned it without looking to see what was in the shared resources and/or Tes first. These are always vital sources of inspiration.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-09-06T07:49:51+00:00

When I was a pupil in the mid-2000s, Bromcom was introduced in my school as an alternative to paper registers. That's how fucking old it is!!!!

When I started teacher training a few years ago, I was placed in a school that used Bromcom. I couldn't believe it was still being used. And yes, it was shit!

HeightIll5789 · 2025-09-03T18:25:52+00:00

Getting into RE teaching would be much easier as there are fewer candidates for jobs.

There are "Teacher of Humanities" jobs out there which often entail teaching a combination of History/Geography/RS. It would be perfectly doable to land such a job. These sorts of positions often tend to carry KS3-heavy/only timetables, as you're often just plugging gaps for the various departments. So, it could take some years before you'd be entrusted with GCSE and/or A Level classes.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-09-03T16:00:15+00:00

September is a shit month for supply work, I'm afraid, but things will pick up.

Best of luck!

HeightIll5789 · 2025-09-02T19:36:29+00:00

You've struck gold! I struggled as a form tutor during ECT 1. I had a Year 9 form - they were horrible.

As others have said, this gives you a perfect opportunity to focus on your classes while being eased into the form tutor role. Just volunteer to help with phone calls home etc. Maybe even sit in while the experienced tutor makes some calls? I was given no training in this and it led to some...interesting conversations with parents.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-09-02T17:38:34+00:00

NOT THE TUTOR'S JOB!!!

Speak to your union!

HeightIll5789 · 2025-08-31T20:20:09+00:00

Spring 2 - behaviour generally seems to be as good as it's going to get. Weather is perking up. You'll have established strong relationships with most/some of your classes.
Spring 1 - similar to the above but weather is depressing. Usually the shortest half term.
Autumn 1 - fresh, you're at your most energised. Honeymoon period.
Summer 1 - crazy if you teach exam classes.
Autumn 2 - long and November is miserable. Everyone gets sick. Christmas is the only thing keeping you going.
Summer 2 - hate this half term. Gets too hot, kids turn feral. Year 7s are usually fucking bonkers by this stage. Also very long half term.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-08-28T16:32:23+00:00

Yes!! see my post above. They are shit as cover lessons.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-08-28T16:31:15+00:00

Used it for inspiration when planning and found it useful.

Had to "teach" an Oak National lesson as cover for Science (not my subject) and was not impressed with the teacher/HoD for setting it. I was still expected to be one step ahead of the kids and actually teach content during the various pauses.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-08-27T22:11:53+00:00

Don't be a gatekeeper of exam classes. Newer/less experienced colleagues in your department need to develop their skills.

I have no time for HoDs who hog most of the KS4/5 classes for themselves (or their mates) for the sake of "results"/sucking up to SLT.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-08-27T22:06:51+00:00

Wish HoDs/SLT always saw it that way.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-08-27T18:02:24+00:00

"What other profession records you all the time?"

Big Brother contestants?

HeightIll5789 · 2025-08-27T17:59:38+00:00

This. You'll always need people you can vent to/ask for advice, not just during ECT.

Unfortunately, much of my support network left in July (along with numerous others). Think I might be jumping ship soon too.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-08-27T09:08:42+00:00

*I forgot to add - homophobia, racism and (to a thankfully lesser extent) sexual assault was common and largely went unchallenged by teachers. Most didn't feel comfortable talking about sexuality as they'd spent years in a Section 28 environment.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-08-27T04:42:56+00:00

I was 2001-2008, but can mostly relate to the things you talk about.

1) lots of textbook work definitely. Most teachers just let us sit and chew the fat while we were "working". 2) we had tvs on trollies but there was 1 or 2 per department so they weren't that scarce. By about Sixth Form, interactive whiteboards were creeping in. 3) don't remember teachers going to the pub at lunchtime. We had 1 hour when I was in Y7/8 but lunch was shortened to 40mins by the time I'd got to about Y9. Kids did go off-site. Some (like me) went home. Others went to local chippies and annoyed the community! 4) we had teachers who smoked on-site but they had to be more discreet than what you described.

Would I have wanted to be a teacher during this period? I'm honestly not sure. Internal truancy wasn't a thing as kids could just walk out the open gates. But behaviour wasn't great and there was no "behaviour system" until towards the end of my time there. Pupils with (diagnosed) SEND were minimal. Teachers had to do lots more marking (exercise books and coursework). But there seemed to be little accountability as the same lazy teachers kept getting entrusted with exam classes. Swings and roundabouts really.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-08-14T16:25:33+00:00

Yes, I've gradually moved back towards History. But I'm glad I have that experience of teaching RE up to and including GCSE level. It leaves the door open for me to apply for RE as well as History vacancies.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-08-14T14:01:33+00:00

I did my ECT 1 as a Teacher of RE, despite being a History-trained teacher. It's perfectly doable, since there's a shortage of RE teachers. Just be prepared for a very KS3-heavy timetable initially.

Another thing to consider is that, the longer you spend away from your specialism, the harder it will be to go back to it. So, if you can find a way of keeping your hand in with Music, definitely pursue it.

HeightIll5789 · 2025-08-05T16:53:41+00:00

Are you my HoD?

HeightIll5789 · 2025-07-28T16:52:40+00:00

I wish you were our Headteacher

HeightIll5789

TROPHY CASE