Various...

Today was Monday!

Unnaccustomed as I am to blogging the following may not make a lot of sense. However, I've decided to join blogger for a number of reasons:

1. I take quite a keen interst in current affairs and occassionally I feel the need to comment on them.
2. Over the last few months I have written a note on facebook whenever something has 'rattled' me. Essentially this was a blog in itself so I decided to sign up for the real thing.
3. I like taking up new hobbies!

I see it as part diary, part me ranting about current affairs (see previous entry). Today, it will probably be the former - suffice it to say that there have been a few news items this week which deserve a mention. The Labour party has jettisoned the last pretence of being the party of the working man by opting to abolish the 10p starting rate of tax. This will benefit those earning over £19-20,000 a year (i.e., the middle class) whilst penalising the poorer sections of society. Keir Hardie will be spinning in his grave...

So, I rolled into St. Aidans this morning ready for another week of fun and frolicks. The school is shutting in July to make way for the new Richard Rose Academy (the name of the dead son of the new principal, or to use the correct language - 'Director of Learning') and plans are afoot to make the transition as smooth as possible. However last week teachers were dropped with the bombshell that they're going to have to apply for their OWN jobs for September. At roughly the same time student teachers at the University of Cumbria received an email advertising jobs going at the new Academy. Put two and two together and yes - it appears that the powers that be are using the transition as an opportunity to 'remove' some teachers quietly. This isn't a simply case of incompetance - ALL teachers at St. Aidans need to apply in writing before the end of this week. There's even talk of some having formal interviews where they 'judtify their position in the new school' to a panel.

It's not easy for me as a student teacher working in this environment. Teachers don't know whether they're coming or going - at present it isn't confirmed who will have a job in September OR whether pensions will be secured. It's a shitty situation to say the least and one the school could do without. Behaviour and attainment are a serious cause for concern - if Ofsted came in tomorrow, the headmaster believes that 'we would be in special measures'. I teach a range of classes from Years 7 to 11. In one of my year 7 classes pupils have a reading age of 7-8 and no one in my Year 11 set will achieve above a grade C. Pupils go to prison on a regular basis, teachers are often verbally and physically assaulted an I've seen them break down in tears in the staffroom on no less than three occasions.

And yet for all this I can't help liking St. Aidans. This is the third school I've spent any considerable length of time in and I can honestly say that I have never worked with a friendlier staff. It often happens that the more challenging the school, the nicer the staff and that's certainly the case here. They will always give their time up for you and for me as a trainee that's very reassuring and helpful. What's more, look very carefully and you will find some nice pupils. It's not easy but they are there!