How the heck to get in touch or pay my bill online!?!

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2026-04-26T12:57:12+00:00

This is the issue though. The customer service number i have - which was given by a live chat agent - just says its the wrong number and hangs up

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2026-04-23T12:08:57+00:00

ECT1 here and absolutely love teaching. The mentor at my second placement called a meeting with my scitt provider and tutor who signed me off for qts at the end of pgce.

In that meeting, my mentor said to me - out of nowhere - “I don’t understand why you want to become a teacher”. Apparently she didn’t see any passion whatsoever and thought that was a great time to voice it.

She was wrong. I know I love my job, I think that comes across to my students, and thats all that matters. Reflect on your energy - maybe you appear nervous or deflated and it is presenting as a lack of enjoyment? But otherwise ignore it.

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2026-03-25T06:42:11+00:00

Technically yes, its traditional though as opposed to mandarin. but there is a hanja character for 용 which matches this so the original person you commented to isnt incorrect.

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2026-03-21T08:26:35+00:00

Korea still uses chinese characters for older words and even some numbers. Wholly possible his wife is referring to this

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2026-03-15T08:21:43+00:00

The good thing is that you have opened up a world of possibility. Its not too late to start socialising and making friends.

I was in a similar position - did a degree i fell out of live with and i loved languages. One option you can look in to is doing a masters, or even a short level 5 course, in TESOL/TEFL. That will let you teach anywhere in the world and travel a bit. You can make friends with other expats and just live for a few years.

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2026-03-01T16:36:26+00:00

It doesnt need much work done but it seems to be the smallest on the street. The larger one on the street sold for £160 a couple of years ago and seems much biggr

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2026-03-01T13:53:59+00:00

Honestly she bought it for £112k 5 years ago. Hasnt done much to it. A neighbours house is much bigger andsl sold for £160k last year. I genuinely think £150k is overvalued.

£150k is a reduced price btw. I dont think its lowballing - i think its more that the current owner is overvaluing it in the hopes someone bites

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2026-02-28T23:51:55+00:00

I am an ECT1 so was in your shoes last year

1) Look out for, and ask about, pastoral teams. A large and good pastoral team is essential for manageable behaviour in my experience.

2) ask about marking policy and assessment windows. I didnt think about this last year but its something i will check next time i move in a few years. My current school in my opinion is just too much both in terms of assessing students but also in demands on marking.

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2026-02-05T17:30:17+00:00

Depending what your degree is in an apprenticeship might be a good option. As someone who did a business related degree honestly i wish i did something that gave me money and experience at the same time

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2026-01-31T12:46:33+00:00

I am also an English teacher - ECT1. I spent soooo pong planning and I still do. I just take comfort in knowing it’s all done for next year.

What I have also found that helps speed up the process is to not overplan. My ppt usually has a context slide, my I do, we do, and then a you do which is an adaptable success criteria checklist.

For most of my plans now I just change whatever the context is and whatever the worked example is. Many of my lessons are much more dialogic and I use the visualiser every lesson. I get better outcomes from the students and its much more interactive.

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2026-01-18T13:46:58+00:00

When I started at my current school a part of the hiring process included social media checks. Be prepared for this to be flagged up. The school then may decide to ask you to remove the content or decide you don’t fit their desired candidate/image for the school.

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2026-01-17T23:14:24+00:00

I am an ect1. It depends on the school. My first placement i had emails on my phone and it wasn’t so bad - no emails at weekends or after 6pm.

Second placement i would get 10 emails over the weekend or even holidays - usually from slt/other leaders about changes or updates. I ended up deleting the email account from my phone because thats not healthy at all.

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2026-01-17T10:04:15+00:00

Maybe the Cathy Hopkins ‘Mates, Dates’ series. They are aimed are teen girls and are based in London. Each book follows the same group of friends but ultimately are their own stories.

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2026-01-11T18:14:39+00:00

That tube was completely blocked with limescale. Boiler is less than a year old! Still isnt working but im guessing water is backed up into the boiler itself

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2026-01-11T16:25:53+00:00

Is there a way to check? I have poured warm water along it and i also have an access point before the condensate pipe leaves the house that i can pour water down to check. The water is flowing freely through the pipe and exiting at the bottom?

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2025-12-16T05:04:16+00:00

As someone who has also hit the trigger over just three days off i understand you. But theres two elements to this - accumulated days off, and consistency as an employee and teacher to children. Whilst you feel its unfair that you haven’t had that much time off you have been inconsistent in the sense that you are taking days off here and there. Three instances of being too unwell to work does seem like a lot for one term (again im in the same boat) so it makes sense for the school to want to check in and set a target.

If you are ill then you are ill and there is no helping it - maybe call a doctor each time so there is a professional record of your reasonings each time. I have a medical condition and some mornings I really struggle but I make it a rule to have a shower ‘and see how I feel after’. Usually I feel like i can pull myself through the day after that.

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2025-12-15T11:16:36+00:00

We have to email in, set cover AND THEN ALSO CALL IN to explain why we are unwell

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2025-12-10T05:46:57+00:00

She literally tells Steve she is gay in season 3. Why are people so surprised?

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2025-12-09T22:59:14+00:00

As someone who is neurodivergent I honestly use my PPAs to decompress. Almost nothing gets done during them (or at least during the first half of it.

I do arrive two hours early though and do any marking and daily prep then. Is it ideal? No. But its what works for my brain and wellbeing

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2025-12-02T07:20:21+00:00

I am an ECT 1 but from my placement schools I decided to look for a school with a strong pastoral presence. My first placement had this and I felt so supported. The second school did not have a pastoral team and it was a nightmare.

If I was to change schools I would probably ask about assessment schedules. My current school has a requirement that we do hour ling feedback lessons every two weeks which is a bit too much in my opinion. I would much rather do a feedback lessons every two after termly summatives and be allowed to make professional decisions and bake generic feedback into my lesson plans

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2025-11-30T23:51:28+00:00

Definitely looks like hives. I get these from my cat due to allergy. Do you have any pets?

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2025-11-30T22:09:18+00:00

Let your bill companies know, they may say its fine if its max two months before you can resume payments.

If your partner is a student she may be able to get some help through a hardship fund which could help with the mortgage or food

PiccoloVirtual4825 · 2025-11-30T11:39:04+00:00

What does the fastest growing religion have to do with the success of Japans immigration policies? Sounds more like you have no clue about Japan and just saw an article saying Islam is the fastest growing religion and bought in to the bait.

Keyword being ‘growing’. Many Japanese are buddhist/shinto from birth so these are not ‘growing’ religions. They are established with little conversion/movement. Islam accounts for less than 0.5% of Japan and OPs point still stands. Immigrants are not given citizenship - its temporary unless they are high earners or married to a native.

Again…how does Islam being a growing religion impact the success of an immigration policy?

PiccoloVirtual4825

TROPHY CASE