*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 →
Recruit! Retain!
This time of year is a difficult time for teachers and students. The sun has started shining1, but students are about to do their exams and you are out of time2. It happens like this every year. You start counting down to the exams, comfortably in double figures of lessons then you come back after... Continue Reading →
Absence
And we're back! Did you miss it? The thirty seconds you got to catch up with your work buddies? The rush of thirty (or more) faces looking at you, waiting for you to fill them with your knowledge and expertise? The feeling of panic when you see the queue at the photocopier? Relax, it's the... Continue Reading →
Holiday!
Oh thank God for that! Right now you are probably too exhausted to celebrate the achievement of making it through another term, but you should. Switch your laptop off. If you're a particularly keen1 member of staff, remove all work email from your phone: no notifications, no sneaky reading them. Have some time off. You... Continue Reading →
David Watkins 