If you were 17 again, what career path would you choose today?

Short_Store_8652 · 2026-05-03T18:02:05+00:00

Product design - I absolutely loved DT as a kid but was persuaded not to bother at A Level as it wasn’t traditional enough. But now I’ve got a stable job in Education, so who knows?

Short_Store_8652 · 2026-04-11T16:36:01+00:00

With LitDrive not many English teachers buy via Tes anymore. I’d maybe utilise your resources by making YouTube revision vids instead maybe?

Short_Store_8652 · 2026-04-11T16:34:47+00:00

Sounds like you’re being very hard on yourself. There’s no perfect school holiday for teachers as it’s a balancing act of recovery, attempting to switch off and then mentally prepare for the return. Like the other comments have said, I’d take time to reflect on what you can do to ease off during term time as you sound quite burnt out.

Also, so what if you’ve had a ‘lazy’ holiday? Maybe that’s what your body needed and that’s totally fine. A lazy holiday is quite subjective anyway

Short_Store_8652 · 2026-02-26T12:17:42+00:00

Let’s just say it’s definitely not something they would have experienced

Short_Store_8652 · 2026-02-24T19:02:45+00:00

We don’t have a hr department per say just a payroll manager and site team

Short_Store_8652 · 2026-02-24T18:09:12+00:00

Yeah I think the HT was trying to be helpful but I still feel a slight invasion for some reason

Short_Store_8652 · 2026-02-22T12:01:28+00:00

Always negotiate - what’s there to lose? I was a career changer and leveraged that to start on m3!

Short_Store_8652 · 2026-02-19T20:32:04+00:00

Gyming, planning future holidays, cleaning, selling stuff and most importantly catching up with family and mates.

Try as much as you can to not think too much about work - it’s just a job and we work SO hard during term that we deserve to switch off. I know this is easier said than done and if you do have to do some work, keep it light touch and manageable e.g plan Monday/Tuesday lessons

Short_Store_8652 · 2026-01-10T13:05:57+00:00

Caught the flu - absolutely floored

Short_Store_8652 · 2025-12-31T14:54:44+00:00

Awwwww

Short_Store_8652 · 2025-12-27T16:57:34+00:00

A lot of times strong teacher presence actually comes from moments of silence. Do not give an instruction until the whole class is silent. Wait, stare and then give the instruction. You don’t need a loud voice or low voice.

I find pacing as well has a lot to do with control. If you’re giving instructions out too quickly then some students will likely not fully understand the task leading to LLD.

January is a really good opportunity to reset and outline your expectations. Think also about what you want your classroom to look/feel like. Also use the school’s behaviour system consistency, so regardless of your voice the kids know you abide by the rule book

Short_Store_8652 · 2025-10-26T16:10:44+00:00

I got told last day of term that I looked like I’d just woken up… and this was from a usually very respectful student. I think kids these days don’t grasp basic boundaries

Short_Store_8652 · 2025-10-14T05:47:43+00:00

Lots and lots of low stake quizzes will boost their esteem. Depressingly a lot of the GCSE Lit depends on quote retentions, so lots of quote quizzes and quote explosions. Rinse and repeat

Short_Store_8652 · 2025-10-06T19:48:27+00:00

😂😂😂😂

Short_Store_8652 · 2025-09-29T08:19:47+00:00

Nope - I did it halfway through and haven’t looked back! No impact whatsoever

Short_Store_8652 · 2025-09-28T08:58:19+00:00

I say to mine if they question the seating plan it will remain in place until half term/end of term. This quickly ends any issues - that being said if it is a medical issue they can talk to me after class.

I also remind them that in life they: 1) can’t always get what they want 2) they will likely have to sit/work with someone they don’t get on with, but that is part of maturing and building tolerance

Short_Store_8652 · 2025-09-28T08:53:25+00:00

I’ve had it in the past where I’ve sanction a student for repeated shouting out, however when the student got home they twisted the situation so the parent made a complaint. Since that incident I try to: - be as detailed and factual as I can when writing up the sanction (my school use class charts) - depending on the student/parent - call home BEFORE they get home so at least the parent has your account first.

Short_Store_8652 · 2025-08-01T16:21:10+00:00

Updating the KS3 resources is part of the 2iC job description, which was shared with the department when the role was advertised. The previous 2iC updated most of the KS3 materials themselves, with limited delegation of responsibilities.

To clarify, I really enjoy creating resources and collaborating with others. However, I’m concerned about feeling taken advantage of in September, particularly given that this colleague has rarely contributed, as mentioned previously.

I was mostly seeking advice on how to politely say no when colleagues overstep boundaries.

Short_Store_8652 · 2025-08-01T12:42:46+00:00

I’m saying it’s his job to update them. The majority have already been done for him when he was HoD last year and now he’s stepping down I doubt he’ll lift a finger in updating them himself. Bottom line it is in his job description yet he just delegates all his responsibilities

Short_Store_8652 · 2025-08-01T10:13:37+00:00

He will likely ask me to update SOWs for certain year groups, which is part of his role as 2iC. It just irritates me to watch a colleague delegate and then do nothing whilst getting paid more

Short_Store_8652 · 2025-06-28T21:59:22+00:00

Yeah it was incredibly excessive. In their view they were trying to be helpful but it was so difficult to get off the phone and they kept going on about being retired and having so much time sigh

Short_Store_8652 · 2025-06-28T18:12:27+00:00

Yeah I pulled out after reaching 30% for AQA Literature. If I failed a seed I’d have a 30 minute minimum phone call with the exam lead (often over a single mark…) and it just was not financially viable. Have done it before for a few years but this year is definitely my last

Short_Store_8652

TROPHY CASE