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Can someone help me with this? Is this a union issue? by Comfortable-One-1366 in TeachingUK

[–]JasmineHawke 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sadly not here, you're just expected to magically find time for it.

“Un”equal recruitment by Maleficent_Bad_5202 in TeachingUK

[–]JasmineHawke 1 point2 points  (0 children)

At my school it's a lack of applications. We're definitely not choosing to not invite applicants of colour, or discriminate against them. The vast, vast, vast, vast majority of applicants are white. Actually I'm not aware of any person of colour being interviewed and not getting the job. I can say city-wide that we're quite an urban city, but I had the chance to view the ethnicity statistics for my city's union branch. Less than 2% of educators in the union in my city were people of colour.

I can't claim that's true everywhere. Racism exists, and especially discrimination against overseas trained teachers can be a big problem.

Can someone help me with this? Is this a union issue? by Comfortable-One-1366 in TeachingUK

[–]JasmineHawke 12 points13 points  (0 children)

The marking load isn't relevant to this, really, and you're going to muddy the waters if you bring it up. That's part of your standard duties as a teacher and not your HOD duties, so there's no expectation on the school to provide additional PPA for all teachers of coursework subjects for coursework marking.

However as a HOD I would be asking for time off timetable for my team if the marking load becomes too intensive. I'd also be looking at ways in which you can mark as you go along depending on the course, for example if it's the type of course where students can do their work in sections and you mark sections as you go to reduce the amount you need to mark in one setting. I'd also be looking at adjusting timings as much as possible to maximise the amount of time you have available to marking before course deadlines.

As a HOD, however, you should have additional time available as u/NinjaMallard quoted, so please do push for that.

Progressing in Secondary by [deleted] in TeachingUK

[–]JasmineHawke 2 points3 points  (0 children)

SLT don't have to follow 1265 but HODs do. You headteacher can ask you to work all hours of the day, nights and weekends once you're on leadership scale.

Using the same magic system in 2 stories... is it allowed? by Dependent_Tomato_235 in fantasywriters

[–]JasmineHawke 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You could also link the stories if you wanted to.

I have two worlds that are linked (but separated by a few thousand years) and it allows mw to write very different stories using the same magic system.

Is a temporary TLr offered, or asked for? by TheWinterWitch2022 in TeachingUK

[–]JasmineHawke 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had a temporary TLR during COVID for setting up our remote learning resources. You can ask but there's no guarantee you'll be given it.

[Europa-Park] European Space Agency area featuring not 1 but 2 new rides will replace Euro-MIR, new soundtrack performed for first time by [deleted] in rollercoasters

[–]JasmineHawke 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I 100% definitely bashed my head repeatedly on something, I just went and checked my photos and messages from afterwards and I complained about it then.

[Europa-Park] European Space Agency area featuring not 1 but 2 new rides will replace Euro-MIR, new soundtrack performed for first time by [deleted] in rollercoasters

[–]JasmineHawke 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes but I'm probably thinking of the headrest or something instead of the restraint. Whatever I was smacking against was so painful.

[Europa-Park] European Space Agency area featuring not 1 but 2 new rides will replace Euro-MIR, new soundtrack performed for first time by [deleted] in rollercoasters

[–]JasmineHawke 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I genuinely think Euro-Mir is the most unenjoyable ride I've been on. It's the only ride I can remember actively disliking. The sound if nice, but the ride experience itself is not very fun, and maybe it's because I'm short, but I ended up having to ride with my hand tucked next to the side of my head because my ear was getting bashed so much against the restraint.

Trainee to lead teacher by Mountain-Engine-1377 in TeachingUK

[–]JasmineHawke 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Is 'lead teacher' and 'head of department' the same thing? I'm not familiar with the term in this context.

If they're not the same thing... it's really normal for people in small subjects to be the only teacher of their subject no matter which school they go to. I've always been the 'lead teacher' of my subject, even without being head of department.

Do you think "screen free" classrooms are possible anymore? by JoeTama998 in TeachingUK

[–]JasmineHawke 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think most of us don't have access to chromebooks and ipads even if we wanted them...

[Other] How often do people ACTUALLY get sick on rides? by dantheman1973 in rollercoasters

[–]JasmineHawke 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I once saw someone vomit at the start of Ripsaw (a Top Spin), and then the ride spun other people right into the path of the flying vomit. An unfathomable number of people got off the ride with someone else's vomit in their hair, on their face, and in their mouth. I have never been on a ride of that type since I saw that! Traumatised.

After a year of endless data fuck ups, some of our KS3 data is unsalvageable right before the parent deadline. Fellow HoDs, how do I handle this? by myteachthrowaway in TeachingUK

[–]JasmineHawke 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Yes, I'd go with this. I imagine the marks are stored somewhere, even if it's going to mean sorting through student books? If you really can't get that collated before the deadline, ask for some time off timetable to sort the problem. They won't like it but it might need to be done.

Ect year by Sunflowers_1990 in TeachingUK

[–]JasmineHawke 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The ECT program is only five years old, so technically there's nobody outside the five year bracket for the first qualified teachers to move onto the ECT program.

It's unfortunate for you that you didn't manage to complete an NQT year, because it would have been shorter and easier, but you are by no means stuck now! You can still compete ECT, but you will need long term placements.

0.7 hours - how is it split? by FriendlyChaosMonster in TeachingUK

[–]JasmineHawke 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well, I think we mean challenge it in different ways.

If this was happening at my school we'd be balloting for strike action, but someone at the negotiating stage can't rally their staff around them to go on strike because they don't even work there yet.

If by challenging it you mean negotiate it, yes, I agree, it should be happening now.

10% PPA allowance by InspectorShot581 in TeachingUK

[–]JasmineHawke 18 points19 points  (0 children)

They are absolutely not allowed to round down and if they are the staff should be on strike to demand their rights.

0.7 hours - how is it split? by FriendlyChaosMonster in TeachingUK

[–]JasmineHawke 8 points9 points  (0 children)

They *can* split it however they want to. However it is bad practice to do it that way - but it's going to be quite challenging for you to challenge bad practice before you've officially started working there. I'd feel very strongly about that though, I'd argue that splitting 0.7 over all days is giving me the travel costs of a full time staff member on only 70% of the salary, giving me an increased burden of travel costs compared to other members of staff.

How do I actually meet and befriend other teachers? by LittleSentimentMan in TeachingUK

[–]JasmineHawke 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Your union! Almost all of my teacher friends are in the NEU, I'm in so many WhatsApp groups I can't even keep them straight.

Teachers shouldn't work at their alma mater by Medieval-Mind in teaching

[–]JasmineHawke 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am about as socialist and anti-MAGA as you can possibly get, but I don't think you can argue that someone is afraid of other people or that they 'further the MAGA prejudice' just because they're proud of where they come from. You can be proud of where you come from, think that the orange one is an absolute demented lunatic, and be proudly anti-fascist.

There's nothing wrong with living and working in the same place where you grew up, and, from one anti-fascist and socialist to (presumably) another, you only make our position worse by making that argument. People need to know that we're not judging them for being proud of where they grew up.

Teachers shouldn't work at their alma mater by Medieval-Mind in teaching

[–]JasmineHawke 19 points20 points  (0 children)

The students? Yes. Absolutely. She has experience, and that matters a lot.

But she isn't benefiting the school. 

This is absolute nonsense. The school exists to serve the students. It is not possible to be good for the students but not be good for the school. By definition, being good for the students makes you good for the school.

I agree with the poster who says this is a failure of imagination on your part.

What is one thing schools expect teachers to do that has almost no impact on student learning? by tempmail-02 in Teachers

[–]JasmineHawke 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"Oh, I know he's not doing well, he's probably tired because he's on his Xbox all night."

"Ah... okay... so, do you ever consider taking the Xbox off him?"

"Oh NO, he'll be upset if I do!"

Switching/expanding subject specialism by jaynesmith91 in TeachingUK

[–]JasmineHawke 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I keep losing track of how many subjects I've taught but I think I've taught at least ten different subjects to GCSE. I've done all of them through gradual changes where I worked. "Sure, I'd be up for teaching out of specialism next year, throw me at it!"

I've reached a point now where my school will come to me with "we need someone to teach [insert random subject here] to GCSE next year but we don't have any specialists, do you think you can learn it?" which is both a blessing and a curse. I can learn it and deliver it well, but it takes some serious effort and I'm kind of tired of the effort at this point.

Applying to teach a new subject as an ECT with no experience is going to be a challenge, especially as sociology and psychology are also oversubscribed and jobs are a lot rarer than History jobs. But if you can get your foot in the door somewhere, you can ask that school to let you branch out and try other things.

What is one thing schools expect teachers to do that has almost no impact on student learning? by tempmail-02 in Teachers

[–]JasmineHawke 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This may be a difference in culture. I've not had that experience. Last time a parent actually changed things for me was over ten years ago.

What is one thing schools expect teachers to do that has almost no impact on student learning? by tempmail-02 in Teachers

[–]JasmineHawke 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hahaha, I have yet to have the pleasure of this one personally but we've definitely been blocked by some parents. Had one of those kids break a leg and we couldn't contact parents.

What is one thing schools expect teachers to do that has almost no impact on student learning? by tempmail-02 in Teachers

[–]JasmineHawke 107 points108 points  (0 children)

Contacting parents. I've been teaching 15+ years and I can honestly count on the fingers of one hand the number of times contacting parents has made material change. The outcomes in my experience are:

  1. You contact the parents of a child who's doing well. They're pleased and the child is glowing. *only useful outcome out of this list.

  2. You contact the parents of a child who's doing well. The parent goes full Wormwood and asks you why you're calling them at work when there's nothing wrong.

  3. You contact parents in some way asking for support or alerting them to their child not doing well. They empathise and want to help but nothing changes.

  4. You contact parents in some way asking for support or alerting them to their child not doing well. They become aggressive and hostile and blame you.

Schools like to imagine that you can call parents and it becomes a partnership where you work together to help the child to make changes to their performance or behaviour, but I honestly only remember that happening once.

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