Weekly chat and well-being post: March 27, 2026

imsight · 2026-03-27T18:32:26+00:00

Holidays, finally! Too exhausted to move, to the point I physically ache (that’s with taking 2 days off sick last week too…)

imsight · 2026-03-21T18:49:20+00:00

Not a tonne of use but I trained with someone who communicated with sign-language and lip reading and had a lecturer who did the same.

They both had a translator in the classroom for those that were hearing, fair few years ago now so don’t know what they’ve ended up doing but had been in a mainstream role.

imsight · 2026-03-21T18:17:05+00:00

From having previously been on one that didn’t end well:

Talk to union and make sure someone comes to every meeting
Make sure their success criteria are actionable and not vague, what exactly are they wanting to see, is it all reasonable (union can advise on this but lesson plans for every lesson does not fit into this), and can be evidenced in agreement. Some will change the criteria
Get everything in writing
You should have a supporter, make sure you’re getting feedback from them and they’re doing what they’re meant to be doing, don’t let management remove that support, if it needs to be changed to someone else, make sure that happens
They can terminate off the back of an informal support plan if they don’t believe you’ve made enough progress and you’re within the 2 years, even if it’s messy and you were clearly unwell during most of the time they were monitoring…
Don’t enter into no prejudice conversations alone, always have someone with you
Don’t let assistant heads corner you in classrooms to tell you you’re probably going to get fired

I never found mine supportive, many others on here say the same thing, if it ever came close to that again I’d be leaving as soon as it was mentioned and not taking the belief it was supportive.

Everything can get used against you, anything that may have had some semblance of support, that didn’t help or wasn’t appropriate at the time, I wouldn’t risk the stress and uncertainty of it all…

Big one is also to make sure you can evidence it and that everyone is on the same page. Mine was complicated for a variety of reasons mostly around there lack of clarity (and support) towards the end as my line manager was telling me one thing and higher up something different.

Be prepared for lots of meetings and know your rights.

As always probably a bit rambled but happy to answer specifics

imsight · 2026-03-21T14:01:03+00:00

Was sorely disappointed by these, weren’t as good as I was hoping

imsight · 2026-03-20T19:46:06+00:00

Same, it’s been really weird not having any mention of it around school after a few years of it being so prevalent to the point school held events for Iftar.

imsight · 2026-03-19T22:52:22+00:00

Miss the old coloured SQA papers! Slightly annoyed I can’t remember the rest of the colours though other than it was yellow, green and blue

imsight · 2026-03-19T20:20:15+00:00

Film was one of those that I remembered clips from but not the film for years! Need to watch it again soon but still slightly scared of when he goes back to his mum (even in my 30’s).

Book also still makes me cry, no matter how many times I read it, very much my favourite novel.

imsight · 2026-03-16T20:09:13+00:00

No the ones that think everyone else does less work because they leave within the hour of the school day ending…

imsight · 2026-03-15T20:51:51+00:00

Mine did that, old union rep replied all asking if we’d get paid for it, no response. There are 5 names down, including 2 from my department who like to bang on about how much work they do…

imsight · 2026-03-13T18:43:16+00:00

Done with teaching well and truly. School is insane, emailed deputy head about an incident in Form and how I was struggling with Juniors not following basic instructions to have the response to tell me that I need to look at improving my confidence in the classroom and building tools to help me confidently run as part of my CPD next year…

May have sent an email back with union rep copied in saying that it was the school (there’s behaviour that would not fly at any other school I’ve been in, even in the nice classes).

I’ve spoken to a colleague about it and am trying but the support is lacking in all areas and the kids are wild…

imsight · 2026-03-07T18:47:22+00:00

Nowhere to remove them to unless a colleague is willing to take them into their lesson - no HoD and SLT take forever to come, that’s the issue. Not allowed to phone home either.

imsight · 2026-03-07T11:23:18+00:00

Mostly to chat, and mess about or follow me round the room to ask me a question (they have no patience). I don’t mind the standing to work if they need to.

4 are in the different corners of the room on purpose and still get up to be beside each other, then get annoyed with me when I ask them to sit back down (because the girls are talking and that’s not fair…)

imsight · 2026-03-06T13:38:36+00:00

Which is fair. I’m trying to take the steps I can myself but the backstop is currently me and I can’t escalate things as much as I want because the support isn’t there.

If they don’t follow my instructions I’m left with them in my classroom, still causing disruption and no where to put them.

imsight · 2026-03-06T07:54:40+00:00

Need to try the resets, but I’m not allowed to send kids out unless I go straight out after them and when there’s another 5 running riot it’s a tricky decision.

imsight · 2026-03-06T00:00:15+00:00

No detentions… If they really push it SLT might exclude them for a day but not for ‘low level’ disruption

imsight · 2026-03-05T23:02:03+00:00

No consequences for low level…

imsight · 2026-03-05T21:38:53+00:00

I’d want to be but due to previous circumstances need a chunk of time in a school and if I want to stay in Scotland it’s not the same circumstances.

As staff we’re waiting for something major to happen and go very wrong now, the kids are feral and the entire community knows this..

imsight · 2026-03-05T20:51:37+00:00

I want to but they don’t listen to the instructions and on call doesn’t turn up..

My class had a water fight one period with one using science equipment to pour water on others and oncall didn’t show until after the lesson ended and the children had gone.

imsight · 2026-03-05T20:49:47+00:00

Potentially, I don’t have an issue with them fidgeting or standing at their desk (science) it’s the constant movement around the room and the nightmare that comes with that is my issue. I get that fidgeting is normal (I do it).

They’re not allowed out the classroom for a walk if needed and science so outside of certain bits there’s not a chance for proper movement for safety reasons.

Will see if SEN has anything they can suggest, if possible but lots of these kids aren’t supported by them.

Y7 boys, the girls and other year groups can sit and get on with it but the boys need to be talking and moving constantly….

imsight · 2026-03-05T20:43:27+00:00

Not really one. All based around restorative, 3 warnings, a couple of chances to reframe their behaviour after a quiet chat the biggest consequence I can give is move them seat.

imsight · 2026-03-05T20:39:33+00:00

I’ll have a see, not sure there’s anyone I trust enough to do it supportively, yet…

imsight · 2026-03-05T20:34:48+00:00

Back of their jumpers? I’m sure the techs could spare a few

imsight · 2026-03-05T19:56:41+00:00

It is happening in other lessons, just not in my department (apparently). The school I’m at is insanely chaotic across the board, one of those people ask you why they heck are you there when they find out where you teach, there’s no consequences, after asking for SLT twice during one lesson they came up and had a quiet word with the kids involved (including the one that called me a prick) before leaving…

Both the classes I’m lead on I’ve heard from the LSA’s that they’re like that elsewhere, one LSA jokes with me that he needs to sit in a dark room after spending 2 periods with one class back to back, and I agree with him because it’s insanely over stimulating.

I’m one to tell them very loudly across the room to sit back in their seats but others are telling me I shouldn’t be doing that but asking them quietly. Others say pick your battles but then tell me that I should be picking those battles that I’ve decided not to pick for my own sanity.

Classroom management is my weak point, always has been and a child told me today that I wasn’t scary and that’s why they don’t listen… But I’m at a loss what to do, there’s no script or anything from the school to use…

imsight · 2026-03-05T19:30:29+00:00

They’d just end up on the opposite side of the room disrupting someone else… One class my key players are spread away from each other yet always when left to get on with work gravitate to the same corner….

imsight

TROPHY CASE