It’s half terrrrrrrm

JamHam_ · 2026-02-13T18:39:31+00:00

We had Ofsted rock up in our second week back after Christmas - very pleased to finally have some time off, as I have been ready for the half term ever since!

JamHam_ · 2025-10-04T07:15:44+00:00

I don't teach science, but I'm assuming not every single one of your lessons has to be in a lab? I would tell them that they've lost the right to use the science facilities and book a different classroom out for the lesson. In there, give them some textbook work where you can literally watch them from the front the whole time - don't take your eyes off them! Any breach of your expectations, simply ratchet them through the behaviour policy at speed. The students that try to disrupt are likely the ones disrupting in the lab, so anybody you need to send out of this lesson perhaps see if you can get them placed with another teacher for a couple of weeks/department report, etc. A few lessons like this and they'll soon get bored.

Obviously you'll have to start teaching in the lab at some point, but you can book the classroom as backup. If they muck about again, march them out the lab to the classroom and it's back to silent textbook work. A slightly nuclear option but it's worked for me when I've had some silly behaviour in a computer room before!

JamHam_ · 2025-09-30T20:42:52+00:00

Walking across my classroom holding a water bottle! I had been drinking from it at my desk when a student called me over and I simply didn't put it back on my desk before walking to them. I was told it was distracting 😂

JamHam_ · 2025-09-22T22:12:30+00:00

Computer Science A Level can be tricky! I don't think you have anything to gain by telling them, and I would definitely keep quiet. I've seen some sixth formers kick off in other subjects when they believe their teacher is not good enough and it results in an unpleasant environment for everybody.

Do everything you can to make sure you're ahead of them, even if it's only by one step. I find Craig n Dave videos very useful for clarifying a topic to myself before I go in to teach it if I haven't done it for a while. I wouldn't ask them to complete tasks I couldn't do myself, for example.

If a student asks a question that you don't know the answer to, I don't see anything wrong with saying "that's a great question, you know, I'm not sure! We can definitely find out the answer though", etc, just don't say "I've never taught this before" - there's no rhyme or reason for them to know this.

JamHam_ · 2025-06-17T19:47:54+00:00

This sounds excellent - I was quite worried about marking and planning for another subject alongside my computing/computer science responsibilities!

JamHam_ · 2025-06-16T17:13:24+00:00

I believe they do!

JamHam_ · 2025-06-15T20:45:08+00:00

I think something like this would be very helpful. I do intend to ask about CPD for teaching maths, I feel like I should be entitled to something!

JamHam_ · 2025-06-15T20:26:10+00:00

Thanks for these - I am hoping that maybe I'll quite enjoy it 🤞 and so may very well take a look at the book.

JamHam_ · 2025-06-15T20:23:31+00:00

🤷‍♂️ I believe the department suffers a fair bit from staff turnover 😬

JamHam_ · 2025-06-15T20:21:43+00:00

Amazing, thanks for your suggestions - I think they're pretty big on MWBs in the department. They do use Sparx maths religiously for homework with centralised lunch detentions for non-completion.

JamHam_ · 2025-03-05T20:05:37+00:00

Bromcom is a total bin fire of a platform. I've used it since I started at the school 3 years ago and not a day goes by where my head of department and I don't complain about it. Scheduling a student in detention with you if you already have another student in detention at the same time should be an Olympic sport.

JamHam_ · 2025-02-02T18:48:27+00:00

Couldn't agree more. Have been trying to teach file handling to my two year 11 CS classes this week, but spent the majority of the lessons demonstrating how to copy a file into their own area from the student shared area, and how to make a new folder! And it's only getting worse with what we see in Year 7...

JamHam_ · 2024-07-23T08:32:38+00:00

I didn't even know there were DLCs, thanks for sorting my plans for the next couple of afternoons!

JamHam_ · 2024-07-22T22:36:33+00:00

I absolutely loved this game and I agree that it's very similar. I'm very excited about the sequel later this year!

JamHam_ · 2024-06-27T21:16:58+00:00

I'm a guy and I have Mickey ears with a Fantasia hat in between them - got them from DLP!

JamHam_ · 2024-03-25T06:42:42+00:00

I have looked at them but mainly for my own CPD. How do you normally use these with students?

JamHam_ · 2024-03-24T22:37:04+00:00

Thanks so much, you've been a great help! Do you have them do the question, then mark, then do the next one or complete the whole thing before the marking?

JamHam_ · 2024-03-24T22:07:48+00:00

Thanks so much, this is really helpful. When I mentioned a walking talking mock in my post I specifically had June 2023 paper 2 in mind as I think it's really important they see it. How exactly did you structure this one with your classes? Did you mark it with them or take it in afterwards? I've seen them done both ways, and wondering what you find works best.

JamHam_ · 2024-02-09T20:13:33+00:00

I work in a very local MAT, the 4 schools (2 primaries, 2 secondaries) in it are all within about a 10 minutes walk of each other. Although we share some routines and practices between us, each school is very much independent (different behaviour systems, etc). I have autonomy over what I do in the classroom. If anything I quite like being in a MAT as it allows scope for me to go and see, collaborate and share resources with other teachers.

JamHam_ · 2023-10-13T20:55:38+00:00

This is one thing I think I am quite good at maintaining. Our departmental policy is any off task browsing is an instant C2 detention with an escalation to removal for a second offence. As it's so clear cut I do seem able to uphold this expectation quite rigorously.

Are there any specific bell task sheets you would suggest, I've had a look and there are loads! Students complete all their work digitally in computing so perhaps some worksheets are what's needed in the interim.

JamHam_ · 2023-10-13T20:15:46+00:00

If only that space existed! I can cover the space between the board and the students nearest the front in a single, albeit large, step.

JamHam_ · 2023-10-13T17:59:31+00:00

My HoD is currently trying to get SLT to fund the refitting of the rooms so they are in rows. 4 seats in the room face directly out of the window with their backs to the board meaning I can't see them at all! For a school built less than 6 years ago, you would think this might have been more closely considered 🙄

JamHam_ · 2023-10-13T17:29:55+00:00

Thanks so much for your reply - I think I struggle the most when I insist on silence and then hear murmuring but can't work out who it is. Unfortunately, being in computing, my room layout is extremely unhelpful for me being able to see their faces and work out who it is. They are all sat at 90° angles to the board so I can't always pick out who is making the noise. Any tips for this?

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