Ah, the famous closing credits to Flash Gordon, and sadly there wasn't another one so that really was the end, so does that mean today is the last blog post? An absolute classic, and if you think different, you're wrong. All together now, FLASH, ah ahhh ah! Well, yes, is the short answer. This is... Continue Reading →
Activities Week
I have always loved activities week as a teacher. You get to go out on trips, and help the students experience new things and yes, see them in a different light1. They also get to see you in a different light, which is no bad thing. What people don't seem to realise about activities week... Continue Reading →
Work Experience
Or, how year 10 finally grow up and realise there is a big bad world out there which they are about to join... Work experience1 is one of the things schools are cutting back on, whilst still offering it in some capacity to year 10 students (and year 12). By cutting back, I mean work... Continue Reading →
Sports Day*
*or don't worry folks, the heat wave will be over soon1. Ah Sports Day, that annual event despised by many teachers and students, but equally adored by others. At my previous school, we2 tried to make Sports Day a more exclusive event by including sports such as Ultimate Frisbee3 and Rounders. Of course the usual... Continue Reading →
To SM or not to SM…
Social Media is in the news in the U.K. again. The Government has introduced legislature to ban social media for all under 16s, starting from Spring 2027. Australia paved the way for this, but now many other countries are joining in and looking at either banning or severely curtailing social media use for teenagers1. Note... Continue Reading →
Resilience
A very good friend of mine is currently doing some work as an invigilator1 and last week, when we were in the pub, he started to tell some stories about what he'd seen. Our conversation lead to a bigger issue for our young people today, and what we, as teachers can do about it: resilience,... Continue Reading →
Gained Time
It's the final half term1! Think back to September and how long ago that was, and yet simultaneously just like yesterday. Bloody time, messing with our heads and our sense of things - who needs Doctor Who? Anyway, now, in secondary schools2, the exams are in full swing and when you look at your timetable,... Continue Reading →
Resign?
To resign or not to resign, that is the question. Except, it isn't, because if you're reading this on Friday at 3:30 when it's released, it's already too late: the resignation deadline has passed. Found this on: https://www.artofit.org/ Teachers have to give at least a half term's notice to end their contract1, and now, with... Continue Reading →
Exams!
It doesn't seem like that long ago that I wrote a blog about mock exams1. Many schools now have multiple mock phases, some even starting in year 10, but now, finally, with the actual GCSE exams in full swing, the end is here. Sounds ominous doesn't it? The end is here. The end is nigh.... Continue Reading →
Parents!
Ah, parents! Who'd be one? It's about the only thing in adult life you don't need a license or test to do. Just about anyone can be a parent1, but does that mean everyone should be? That's not for me to decide2, but if you are going to be a parent, you should at least... Continue Reading →
David Watkins 