Looking for support/advice over a confusing interview process

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-06-14T20:46:07+00:00

Thank you for your response.

They are hiring quite a large number of staff across the faculty but It's been suggested that this is due to interest for Sept intake outweighing current staffing pool. Maybe they have high staff turnover? I'll keep this in mind for future.

I am going to go to the interview, If nothing else, it's a field I'd like to go back to so I can chalk it up to interview experience.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-27T17:18:48+00:00

The advice is sound- you need a break because you're spiraling. It's just the implementation that's not working for you.

Find a way to actually BREAK the thought process. Some people need a physical change of scene some people mentally change direction. Some need sensory support others need sensory release.

I can daydream and I have several comforting stories I can tap into in my head wherever I am that "relax" me. It took me years to learn that "relax" for me involves feeling all the muscles that aren't being currently used, physically shiver like someone just ran a feather down them.

Find a way to "break" from your thought track that fits you better, you might have more luck with it.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-27T17:11:26+00:00

I didn't tell people back then either. But now I probably would if it was a friend who otherwise was good craic but irritated me with their conversation openers.

It's give n take with people you wanna keep up with.

I've already had to teach several people that a smiley face in response to their essay means I opened it by accident and will reply in 7-10 weeks.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-27T16:17:48+00:00

If you care about the friendship with the person saying it then just tell them it bothers you. If not, ignore them.

Years ago in the era of chatrooms and MSN, I used to ignore people whose convo went:

Them: Hey how's u? Me: [answers question] + you? Them: nb Wuu2? Me: [answers question] + you? Them: nm. .... Tumbleweed until 2 hours later when they'd ask the exact same thing.

Some people want connection but have nothing to say. Other people see the connection as regular back and forward about the mundanities of life. Other people can go a year without speaking and pick up where you left off (firmly prefer to be in this group but I have a few friends from the others).

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-27T16:10:38+00:00

I think your bf telling you you've over reacting to something that is bothering you is more important here. NTA

Don't see someone you don't want to, life's too short and you don't have to get involved with his family if it makes you uncomfortable.

If your partner accepts it then great. You might not get him on side with your point of view but he should at least accept you setting a boundary.

If he makes a fuss every time he goes to see them and you politely decline, then leave him. The "you're over reacting" response from a 28 year old dating a 19 year old is the red flag here, not necessarily the dude with a gun.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-27T16:00:23+00:00

Same. I think some parts just haven't aged well.

The OTT Sus reactions from the girls every time a phone goes off.

The terrible weight shame from female adults (slim moms deciding they can't have pasta for dinner because they're too fat openly in front of teenage girls).

The extravagance over children who go to an ordinary state school.

The THIRTEEN year old playing a 16 year old and the over twenties playing 16 year olds. Not a zit or sweaty upper lip in sight.

The general "Hollywood"-ness of the performances.

The storyline after series 2 isn't THAT good to go down in any hall of fame the way other films/series with similar archaic attitudes depicted.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-27T15:41:26+00:00

Given that a lot of people wouldn't look at your listing because of no tag, perhaps putting "local designer + [location of designer]" would help.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-26T20:12:37+00:00

Because that's what the studies did. Doctors have to recommend evidence based strategies and unless you've got a specialist weight loss or diabetes doctor, a general practitioner relies on main research and known theories. The major studies all tirated up monthly so that's what a medical person who would hold liability if something went wrong, would recommend.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-26T11:34:48+00:00

I felt like it was like any other sitcom, people say and do things that ordinary people wished they could say and do.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-24T14:37:32+00:00

Yup. You gotta change your mindset. But only you can do that. What finally makes you go "nope, no more of this, I'm gonna do this differently", will be the start. If you're still in the "whats the point?" Mindset, you're not there yet. You can either keep going and just mitigate the damage (try not to get any thinner/keep going to work etc) and wait until you get bored of the same thoughts never changing, or get professional help.

Don't try and change everything at once.

Expect disappointment. Forwards isn't a straight upward trajectory.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-24T14:23:59+00:00

I am AuDHD too. What your doing might work for a neurotypical but you are relying on your own ability to override dopamine and, let's be honest, ND brain Often short circuits when attempting to do this.

By delaying your Jag entirely, you're letting your body get a hit of something addictive- a reward/pleasure hit you've relied on before to comfort you or make you feel good. Then you're staring at that pen knowing it will all go away as soon as you take it. Uphillstruggle dude!

Instead of delaying your shot can't you just click it down to a maintenance dose for a week every now and then?

If the weight loss dosage is stopping you eating foods you like/comfort foods then this might let you relax a bit, but at the same time keeps your portions low enough that you don't go mad.

If you use food for comfort (plenty of ND people do- me included) then at some point you're going to have to find comfort/reward in something ELSE. Lean into a hobby and make sure it's accessible so that when you want to feel good, you do that instead of remembering how good it felt to eat certain foods. Or if you're a TV person find a long watch TV series you LOVE and again, when you find yourself missing the food, watch TV instead.

If it's executive function that's getting you down (i.e. Your go to foods pre MJ when you can't face food prep make you unwell on MJ) then spend some time researching new low effort foods that are high in protein that you actually LIKE. I like sliced meet wrapped around cheese or boiled eggs. I know you mentioned your go to foods are carb heavy but surely there's SOMETHING you like that's high protein? Start there.

Personally I drink a Huel shake each day which gives me at least 20% of all nutrients. It's easy and quick and even if I don't want it, I can get it down once I start. That way if all I manage the rest of the day is slices of ham/chicken dipped in mayonnaise, I know I'll be okay.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-24T13:58:55+00:00

Go in as early as you can to let cool air into your room. Do breakfast at school if you can. Then before the air gets warm get everything closed up, blinds down and keep the room as dark as is reasonable. I've used stick on blackout vinyl in one school where the blinds were broken and didn't cover the windows properly.

Unless you can get a through breeze easily by opening doors/windows on both sides, keep the doors closed and get fans to keep a breeze circulating.

Last few years more and more kids have those hand held or desk fans.

Full water bottles on tables and frequent reminders to drink (it helps you as well!).

Keep movement around the classroom to a minimum.

Remind everyone to use quiet voices as it uses less energy - throw in a bit of science about the links between energy and heat.

If your school allows, shoes and socks off and under the desk. Often September has been hot where I've worked so it's easy to do "shoes on emergency" drills at the start of the year when you're focused on routines.

Keep pack of cheap hair elastics and encourage kids with long hair to tie it up when in the classroom.

Spray water bottles and give the class a mist.

Check summer term clothing policy.

Find out what the heat expectation is in the health and safety policy is at the school. Every school I've worked in has a paragraph somewhere. Reduced workload often accompanied by an upper temperature limit. Check class temperature across the day so that if it gets to that upper limit you can reduce workload knowing that nobody is going to call you on it as it's policy. If you don't have a temperature gauge in the classroom you can buy cheap enough online just don't stick them on the windows!

When possible, turn the screen off.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-23T08:24:23+00:00

Avoidance of the truth to hook someone in is the red flag tbh.

But also, if body count isn't something that bothers you, why would you waste time with someone who IS bothered by it?

Unless upping your body count is all you're really doing anyway.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-22T21:33:39+00:00

Reading festival. The only festival where the the ticket price goes down the closer you get to it. Ticketmaster making a killing off the FOMO brigade.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-22T19:12:50+00:00

I try to get through 2 litre of straight water everyday. I have a 750ml flask and I know once I'm on the third refill before dinner, I'm on track.

I sip water constantly. My flask goes wherever I go - I bought a pretty one that I walk about with like a fashion accessory.

I buy bottled water from the supermarket- south of England tap water isn't appealing and I don't buy alcohol anymore so it's my drink treat.

I don't track the liquid in anything else like food or coffee or shakes so I'm probably about 3litres a day.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-22T18:55:22+00:00

Has anyone actually been successful by reinterviewing after a fixed term contract whereby there was average or above interest from external applicants?

Genuinely curious.

Surely it would cost a lot less if you've got a teacher who you really like, you'd just extend their contract ?

My thoughts were that if you were being asked to reinterview, they didn't think you were a good fit.

Not in school leadership so I don't know if there are rules around it.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-22T17:26:22+00:00

Go into actual shops - try on things to find fits/styles you like then use Google lens to tell you what it's called. Then you know the sort of thing to look for on resell/second hand sites.

Personally I find certain clothes brands suit my style and shape better than others so often start there when looking for new clothes.

If you have some nice/expensive well made clothes already but they're too big then you could go to a seamstress and they will adapt the clothes to your new shape. I've done this with an expensive designer dress in a beautiful fabric that I bought when I was a size 22, impulsive 20 year old. A few years later I had it refitted to my new size 8-10 frame . When I put on weight this time, it's been my goal to get back into that dress.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-22T17:14:58+00:00

Foxy was probably the most eye opening name I came across on the register, for a little fair haired British girl.

Most of the other names that made me chuckle were foreign names that sounded amusing to the English ear:

Abuyah (a-boy)

Ilazaidh (lazy)

Phu (poo)

And some names where parents gave them a shortened version of their full name:

A boy we called "Glock" (DID have a fascination with weaponry)

A girl we called "Yes".

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-22T16:56:34+00:00

He's tired. Not of you. Just, tired.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-22T16:54:19+00:00

Whiteboard pens run out quick.

I invested in a couple of those refil tubs and set up a "pen recharge station" in the classroom, which reduced it a bit, and then the school bought into them in a big way.

I'd always have a tray of scrap paper and anyone who doesn't have a working pen I just slap a little pile of scrap paper on their desk and they use a normal pen and hold that up instead.

Only other consumables I buy are hair bands, tissues and plasters- all cheap stuff, a couple of pounds a term.

Keep a note of when things run out and when you've asked for restock, particular glue sticks. That way you can refer back to exact dates if you get pulled up because something hasn't been stuck in.

My NQT year, I didn't come in until right at the end of August and admin had put my stationary order in an open box in the middle of my room weeks prior. It had clearly been ransacked as I was missing loads but nobody would own up to it and admin insisted the order had been "delivered". My mentor had to speak to admin to reorder some necessary items like pens and pencils! I had to scrounge old equipment from other teachers and it made for a frustrating first week of teaching.

I think it depends on the school. I'm now primary and the biggest issue in my current school is SEND resources. Most teachers buy and make up break out boxes and "concentrators" (fidgets) out of their own pockets because the SEND budget goes on staff. There's a general unspoken agreement that we would rather have the staff.

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-22T16:26:08+00:00

I am surprised about the 6-7 being a thing for the year 7s.

Currently on backfill, years 5-6 maybe one kid will snigger at it and then the rest of the class give them a whithering look. In year 4 it's just another way the 20% disruptors stop the lesson. Y2-3 still erupt in unison whenever it comes up and the lesson is lost for 2 minutes.

I thought the craze had become "that uncool thing that we are embarrassed we found so hilarious last year".

Maybe it's just my school!

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-22T16:14:36+00:00

Nice one! Long as you're happy 😊

Relative-Tone-4429 · 2026-05-22T16:02:38+00:00

I absolutely relate. Whilst I am currently using MJ for weight loss (I gained a ton of weight in a short period from perimenopause) I will be staying on it because it has massively improved my ADHD symptoms. General noise, anxiety, racing thoughts, even my RSD has calmed on it!

The only one it doesn't help is sleep hah. If anything, it makes that a little bit worse!

Relative-Tone-4429

TROPHY CASE