I need absolutely every ounce of the Pervy Councils support (and possibly the next week too)
As you know I am working in one school 2 days a week doing 1:1 tuition, plus I am working in another school doing general supply cover plus I'll be starting 1:1 there next week. I am teaching in this second school for the next 1 1/2 days, however the school is also being inspected by OFTED for the next 2 days. PLUS my other school is awaiting an OFSTED any week now.
I must also tell you that the reason these OFSTEDs are so eagerly anticipated is because both schools I am working at are in Special Measures and any improvement shown by any memeber of staff - no matter how new - is important. I have been in teaching since 2000 and evaded OFSTED for almost 11 years of teaching and now I could get 2 inspections is the space of amonth, even a fortnight.
I feel sick and very scared.
I apologise for this moan but I need all the support I can get right now...
..ADDENDUM...
OFSTED inspections are roughly done every 2-3 years depending on the standard of the school. They can last anywhere from 1/2 a day to a couple of days depening on the size of school and foci of the inspection. In the olden days, a school got 4-6 weeks notice, now they can phone up unannounced and say 'we will be there in 2 days time'.
In my situation, as the schools are both in Special Measures, they get mini kind of inspections quite often, just to make sure they are sticking to the improvement plans (blah blah blah) but get a 'proper' inspection every year. The school in Bath which I am working at has been in Special Measures for quite a while now and they are hoping that this inspection may see them removed from SM.
So what happens in an inspection... well I kinda don't know as I have never been party to one. From what I know they spend the majority of their time swotting over the paperwork and talking to the management part of the school, checking that they have been following the improvement plan. They will also have time to watch lessons, do an exercise book or planning scrutiny but this will probably be 1 lesson per teacher (again depending on the size of the school and the foci of the visit)
I guess I may have a lot to talk about after this week is over:o/
You can be assured that I'll be right (metaphysically) behind you, cheering you on (also metaphysically) with aphorisms that probably don't, on the face of it, make any sense at all, and the occasional quiet word in the OFSTED inspector's (metaphysical) ear to put a good word in for you.
ReplyDeleteTwo is just unlucky. But it'll all be done and over soon. Just do your metaphysical best, your royal forkliness.
PS The teachers I know have, on the whole, survived OFSTED inspections, and it will present an opportunity for you, your colleagues and your classes to celebrate once it's all over.
ReplyDeleteM'lady Forky, your considerable anxiety is understandable - one (your first) is nerve-wracking enough, two inspections in a short space of time makes you think fate is just taking the piss after all this time.
ReplyDeleteI think you ought to take comfort from the fact that everyone in any profession is subject to such scrutiny at some point, or should be.
Given the responsibilities you have as an educator, I must admit (in spite of living in a different country with what I understand to be a rather different education system) I find it comforting to know there is a system in place to monitor such things.
The future (in many small ways, that you are likely never to appreciate)is in your hands.
That does not, however, prevent me from saying that I will be thinking of you in these coming days, though am very VERY certain that you have absolutely nothing to worry about.
The Pervy Council & I stand behind you.