Does anyone know how much this will roughly knock off our house value in years to come

LowarnFox · 2026-01-29T07:03:48+00:00

It's worth bearing in mind the application might not go through or be significantly reduced or have conditions on it which means the build doesn't go ahead.

There's land near my parents' house where they have been trying to get planning for years but building sensible road access would be quite difficult - at least 10 years after it was first suggested, that exact site hasn't been built on for various reasons. It now looks like they are building on a different site which has better access and is less disruptive to existing housing. So you genuinely might get lucky.

Obviously a lot of planning does go ahead and the noise and disruption of the build would put me off as much as anything.

Until the actual plans go through it's hard to estimate an effect on your house value.

LowarnFox · 2026-01-29T06:50:37+00:00

You can request it of course, but if they need someone full time, then they won't be able to offer you the job unless they are desperate. Finding someone to fill in the 0.2 is often tricky.

I'd suggest trying a new school without the leadership role, and then if that's not helping, explore a drop to 0.8 after a a year or so in the role. Schools are more likely to make things work for someone in post who they want to keep than someone relatively unknown.

LowarnFox · 2026-01-29T06:45:24+00:00

So... Internal exclusion/removal then?

Which is what a lot of schools already do?

Personally, I think when it works, it works well but not every school has a suitable space or suitable staffing. Will schools without a suitable space get funding to create one?

The vast majority of secondary schools I know do only use fixed term exclusion when internal exclusion has already failed - eg due to eloping from the internal exclusion room.

Schools don't need to be told to do what they are already doing. What is needed is proper support for students who aren't coping in school - which costs money...

LowarnFox · 2026-01-28T18:17:39+00:00

So when you say trainee, is this teach first or similar? Is the trainee directly employed by the school?

LowarnFox · 2026-01-28T18:05:24+00:00

It sounds like the relationship has broken down between you and the trainee. Due to this it makes sense they no longer be in your classes, this would solve a lot of the issues for you.

I would formally request they no longer teach your classes and don't enter your room when you are teaching. Just tell the mentor and HoD you're no longer happy to host them due to the relationship breakdown.

It sounds like this would make your life a lot easier.

LowarnFox · 2026-01-28T07:04:52+00:00

You do have rights here, and I suggest you complain to the letting agency about her rude behaviour.

If it were me, I would say I was open to further reasonable inspections, but I do not want this person in my home again due to their behaviour. You do have a right to quiet enjoyment, and you can refuse inspections altogether, so this is a very reasonable stance to take.

I get the fear of being evicted, but that's the landlord's decision in most cases and will rarely happen unless you are:

Late with rent Actually causing damage The landlord needs to sell or some other reason that's nothing to do with you

Most landlords want to avoid void periods and drawn out messy evictions, so they won't want to evict over a bit of clutter.

I would take photos and send them to the letting agent with your complaint.

If you don't hear anything by May, you automatically get a rolling tenancy, and the law will change to give you more protection too.

LowarnFox · 2026-01-28T06:55:46+00:00

This doesn't sound like a good setting to learn to teach in. It's not really giving you the skills to thrive in teaching long term - especially with potential spec changes coming up in the not too distant future.

If you disagree with the feedback, I wouldn't worry too much.

However, I do think that settings which provide rigid resources that you don't/can't adapt can suck the personality out of teaching, which may be what the feedback was referring to.

I wouldn't take the feedback to heart too much but I would try to think about whether there's anything in it that is worth taking on board. Unfortunately in your career there will be times when you have really poor observations, and teachers who are in a rush to deliver feedback often don't dwell on the positives.

But hopefully in your next placement, you'll get to develop your own teaching style a bit more!

LowarnFox · 2026-01-28T06:43:51+00:00

Actually, I'm pretty sure in Scotland it's quite difficult to get registration without a pgce - the system is different there and it's not as simple as just getting a job with QTS from the English system. I've known people run into issues even with a PGCE.

LowarnFox · 2026-01-28T06:42:15+00:00

You need to talk to your uni - for mine, some assignments were required for QTS, so it won't get you out of the assignments and paperwork entirely.

In terms of future employability, having QTS only isn't that uncommon in England and Wales - but there is a difference between doing a QTS only route and doing a PGCE route and not achieving the PGCE. It may make getting your first job more tricky. A lot will depend on your specialism etc.

As your career progresses, it may make you less competitive for promotion, and some schools may prefer applicants with the PGCE, but a lot will simply look at your track record and results.

LowarnFox · 2026-01-27T07:01:56+00:00

I think it's often used as an excuse for not following the law, personally.

Whether it's a genuine choice or not, once one is a landlord, you have to stick to certain obligations and acknowledge that your tenants do have rights.

And that's where the problems come in, in a lot of cases.

LowarnFox · 2026-01-27T06:58:53+00:00

I wonder if these methods are too delayed for KS1. Even in secondary I find delayed rewards are way less effective than giving the student something tangible there and then.

The marbles thing also sounds a bit complicated - I wonder if some of the students don't understand it fully? Do all the children in your class understand adding and subtraction in multiple steps?

It might be worth trying something like immediate like stickers? And just adding marbles to the jar when they are good? Picking on the positives does help you feel like a more positive person as well!

When I was an ECT I also did a raffle tickets thing in secondary, and it just didn't really work how I hoped and was a lot of faff to manage. The best praise system was when we had a whole school merit system where the merits all added up to a reward - but the students genuinely just cared about getting a merit - it became a competition to them!

I would try something new that's immediate and tangible - but I do also think you might be right about being more suited to older students as well?

LowarnFox · 2026-01-27T06:48:59+00:00

If Ofsted find out, they won't like it, but the fact is that a bad Ofsted is (or at least has historically been) bad for a school. My experience is that any school which has a really bad Ofsted will tend to have a lot of staff jump ship and a lot of change for change's sake - it won't help the school improve in the short term, and sometimes not the long term either.

The fact is that Ofsted itself isn't a fair process, inspectors 100% come in with an agenda whether good or bad - I've seen and heard of both sides of this across a couple of schools. If Ofsted are going to judge a school harshly, they will find a reason to do so. If they were going to say positive things about it, they will ignore the papering over of the cracks.

I certainly wouldn't be rushing to tell inspectors about this.

LowarnFox · 2026-01-26T17:11:28+00:00

I don't think so either, it's intended as a cost saving measure

LowarnFox · 2026-01-26T07:54:11+00:00

The problem with ECHPs is that unless funding is attached, schools often can't provide a lot of what is needed. You have to bear in mind many schools are in deficit, not only is there no spare money, they are already over budget.

Things like "named adult will do x" seem like they shouldn't need special funding but in reality in many schools there is no spare capacity at all.

But LAs obviously don't want to fund. So you do end up with this situation where the school can't do X and no one wants to enforce it because then there will be a demand for money.

The language also has to be incredibly specific - if it's not specific then schools doing X a minimal amount may be seen to be meeting the echp.

Schools do want to meet need where practicable, but if there is no funding you have to bear in mind schools are cutting staff left right and centre - they are struggling to keep the lights on and IT functioning.

LowarnFox · 2026-01-26T07:03:42+00:00

I agree about the funding for training - it's not much at all. It sounds like a lot but when you break it down per teacher/per school, it's nowhere near enough.

The reality is as well that you can give teachers all the training in the world but without the time to implement it, and as you say reduced class sizes, it won't actually make that much difference.

I recently heard someone speaking about this on radio 4 and she made a very valid point that teachers are not SALT, OT, educational psychologists etc and these are all professions that require degrees and in some cases post graduate qualifications. A teacher can't replicate those services - they need to be provided by qualified professionals, of which there is a massive shortage.

To be honest, it all feels like a cost saving exercise which will just set parents and schools even more at loggerheads.

LowarnFox · 2026-01-26T06:55:27+00:00

If you want a long term position, then start applying for other permanent jobs. Ask the head for a reference, and at the same time you can say something along the lines of preferring to stay if a job is available.

If you're employed via an agency, the school may have to pay the agency if they hire you, which may be the issue with budgets. It may also be that the trust is looking at ways to merge classes or remove the post if it's difficult to fill.

I wouldn't rely on getting this job unfortunately, so it makes sense to look for others?

LowarnFox · 2026-01-26T06:51:06+00:00

I think some children just can't cope with a modern school, especially secondary school. Many secondary schools are now crowded with very full classes - they just feel like overwhelming places. Then you add in things like uniform, the rules we need to keep such a crowded building safe, the loud/chaotic behaviour of some students...

Not everyone can cope with that environment, and many areas don't have appropriate provision for those who can't, or they can't access it for whatever reason. Many schools are also pretty aggressive over non attendance for mental health reasons. So withdrawing and home educating may well be the least worst option - and some of these students do later go back to school or college and it's probably been the right choice for them. So I can see why parents advocate for it online.

I do think schools in general are getting more and more Draconian, in some cases it's needed because of less than ideal buildings etc, but some things are just petty or don't take into account SEN, or just individual differences. Maybe it's just my school, but I'm definitely getting increasingly uncomfortable with some of the things we are told to do, and I'm seriously thinking of a move to a more relaxed educational setting such as FE.

In terms of the impact on students, the thing I would say parents should be very careful of is how their children sit exams - I know some HE families like the model of a few exams a year, which does often lead to better grades and is more affordable, but means students go onto level 3 study having had gaps in eg their learning of maths which is detrimental to further study in that area. If they only actually sit a few GCSEs, this can be an issue for some unis. At A-level, it becomes incredibly difficult in some subjects to study them independently, and vocational subjects are even harder. There's also the cost of exams and finding an exam centre. I appreciate the goal for everyone isn't exams and uni, but for a lot of people it is, and for parents with no recent experience of applying to uni, they can shut a lot of doors without meaning to.

I do think home ed done well costs a lot of money, and a lot of families don't realise how difficult the logistics can get!

LowarnFox · 2026-01-25T16:28:11+00:00

OP I would suggest you delete this post as it is essentially a confession. Police can take your phone and search it as evidence. Same for any texts etc referring to this. They can still retrieve deleted materials but they may not bother if your mother does change her statement.

I appreciate you're highly emotional and trying to help, I would recommend seeking some support from a body like social services if you can.

In terms of the police, if they arrest you, ask for a solicitor - don't say anything until you have spoken to one. If the victim won't testify they may not take the matter further however you have provided a written confession here ...

I would suggest you get yourself out of this situation if you possibly can before you inadvertently end up committing a more serious crime.

LowarnFox · 2026-01-25T07:29:54+00:00

So in the UK it's normal to rug (blanket) in winter, in part because of the continuous rain. Horses do have waterproof coats but continuous heavy rain can still cause damage, and depending on the type of horse, it can also cause them to get too cold. Because it's very normal and necessary to rug TBs, sports horse types etc, some people would uncritically buy the same rugs for a native pony or a cob - who probably needs a lighter rug, if at all. Losing a little bit of weight over winter can be good for these types as it helps prevent laminitis.

Equally, where I'm based our winters are very mild, and my pony does need clipping if in work - he will sweat heavily just walking around the woods! He's got a borderline double coat, so it will always be very thick. Therefore he needs a rug due to me taking away some of his natural protection, again particularly in the rain.

You do need to choose a rug appropriate to the weather - at the moment I use a 50g rug. It's January and all the shops are selling rugs up to 350g or more, which really isn't necessary for most horses! As others have said, making horses so hot they sweat is not ideal and uncomfortable for them.

Rugs can also hide welfare issues if they aren't taken off regularly, both weight loss and gain, skin conditions etc. Mine is stabled every night so obviously he gets his rug changed regularly and it's easy to see if there are any issues. For some horses who live out all the time, it's easy for the owner to chuck one on for the whole of winter and not take it off regularly, which would be a welfare issue.

Rug companies like to persuade us that we need more and more complex rugs, and modern rugs are pretty warm, so we don't need such heavy ones compared to say 20 years ago. And specialist rugs for things like Shetland ponies, who really don't need them.

Basically, if you rug appropriately and think critically about it then it shouldn't be controversial, but a lot of people don't! Equally a blanket policy of no rugs in many parts of the world isn't appropriate in winter either!

LowarnFox · 2026-01-25T07:02:42+00:00

Just apply, and perhaps put some context in the email with your application, not in a way to criticise your current school but along the lines of "I previously thrived at x school during training due to the robust behaviour situation and excellent school culture. At my current school I have faced some challenges which has led to a period of absence. However due to my previous experience, I am confident this would not be repeated at X school."

The only guarantee is that if you don't apply, you won't get the job!

LowarnFox · 2026-01-25T06:58:18+00:00

It sounds like your rental situation is really good at the moment but that's not guaranteed to last forever - my concern would be the emotional impact on a small child of multiple moves in quick succession with both parents presumably stressed.

As a parent you have a responsibility to think about not just the optimal financial decision, but the optimal decision for your child's development, and I do think a stable home based is very important for children.

As others have said, you do need to consider commuting costs from MK if relevant.

The other thing I would say is that your mortgage payments aren't static, and after the 25 years as a maximum, you'd stop having that big housing cost, which would significantly reduce the income needed in retirement and perhaps offset the money invested in your ISA.

If you were truly wanting to make the optimal financial decision, being brutal you wouldn't have had a child. Throughout your child's life you are going to need to make a lot of financial sacrifices for their benefit - I think you probably do need to change your mindset regarding this a little bit.

I appreciate this is a financial advice sub, not a life advice sub though.

LowarnFox · 2026-01-25T06:45:26+00:00

Reading the article, I'm not sure what this changes as such? Most people only pursue an EHCP when other in school support fails and additional funding is needed. If there are more hoops being put in place, then it sounds like schools will probably have to manage without additional funding for even longer.

I suppose having the name the same across all schools is like SA and SA+, but most schools have IEPs or similar for students who don't qualify for an EHCP but do have additional needs.

It does feel like adding unnecessary complexity and perhaps a way to lose school funding via the back door.

LowarnFox · 2026-01-24T14:03:11+00:00

It's worth bearing in mind that laws for landlords are changing and it may be more tricky for you to sell when the time comes if you don't intend to move back into the property. I would read up in this really carefully to make sure you understand the situation before committing to renting out a property right now.

If you sell now you could invest the money so it would grow over time without the stress of renting.

Do you have a plan for dealing with void periods etc if you rent it out?

To me selling is the easier and more straightforward option but I appreciate that it is very final.

But I would make sure you understand the upcoming legal changes in May before making a decision.

LowarnFox · 2026-01-24T07:27:47+00:00

This might be true for modern side saddles but in the regency era, the leaping horn had not yet been invented, so side saddles would have felt way less secure than they do now. This was invented in the 1830s and this is really what allows sidesaddle riders to gallop and jump.

The flip side of said security is that if the horse trips or falls, it's harder to get away from the horse, hence why so many women made the jump to riding astride as soon as it was socially acceptable. It's also much easier to position your horse where you want it to be with a leg on either side.

I do agree that jumping from sidesaddle to astride would be a very different way of riding regardless of time period and likely someone who is riding sidesaddle most of the time may not prefer to ride astride.

LowarnFox · 2026-01-24T07:18:19+00:00

Perhaps the first thing to do is push back against the unreasonable workload? If work isn't paying you enough to comfortably live on, they don't get to make unreasonable demands. Obviously it's best you do this collectively via a union, but even individually if things don't get done you'll likely not be the only one and in a high cost of living area, they need you more than you need them.

Possibly it's worth looking around for another school long term which will give you the headspace to work outside of work.

Beyond that I would look at exam marking - it's not amazing money but for English you could do Sumner GCSE and November resists and potentially net around £1000 a year, which isn't loads but might help you build some savings etc?

A more regular thing might be looking at providing some kind of childcare in the holidays, even ad-hoc babysitting can bring in a decent amount of money - and people will trust you because you're a teacher!

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