Meh
My absence (hence the amount of reblogs and my lack of replies to your comments) recently has been due to the fact that my school has been undergoing a massive inspection. It isn’t the dreaded OFSTED, but may has well have been – my school is an outstanding Academy and therefore we also have routine inspections from the company that sponsors it. To say that I am exhausted is an understatement.
I don’t believe in ‘show’ lessons – I don’t plan anything that I wouldn’t normally deliver on a daily basis – but the added stress of triple checking paperwork to ensure that it is correct has resulted in about ten hours sleep in the last few days. I had everything in place and organised into specific folders, I printed off plans, seating plans, important information about individual students and overviews of the content of the lesson. I went into work earlier each day, making sure that everything was set up to the highest possible standard. The anticipation of everything gave me an enormous loss of appetite.
I wasn’t observed.
Double meh
It’s always a double – edged sword in situations like this – I’m pleased that I wasn’t seen as the process is quite nerve-racking, but at the same time I was a little disappointed as I had some awesome lessons over the last few days and I spent hours printing off paperwork that I didn’t need to. However, I’ve watched some of my colleagues go through the process with various inspectors and I was pleased for them when the general feedback has been really good. In my last observation I was given an ‘Outstanding,’ so I was concerned that there would be a high level of expectation from an inspector entering my classroom and so I have been extremely tense for the last few days, so the plan for this evening is simply to relax and do absolutely nothing. I’ve been doing quite well on the diet that I started at the beginning of the year, but tonight I am going to indulge in some hot, buttered toast and a chocolate bar the size of my face.
Normal blogging will resume at the weekend, when I’ve got through tomorrow’s lessons and choir and caught up on some sleep and I’ll get on with replying to the fantastic comments that you’ve been leaving recently. In the meantime, don’t forget to check out the blogs that I am advertising at the minute on my sidebar – simply click on the buttons for links to their sites. I promise it will be worth your time.
You can also find me on Twitter and Tumblr @Suzie81blog – I’d love to see you there!
Image credit 1: tucoo.com
Image credit 2: lolwall
Suzie Speaks 
We just went through a huge accreditation review. Stressful and I’m not even in a teaching position. Enjoy your toast and chocolate, you earned them!
Thank you! I’m looking forward to it! Hope your review went well!
Loved the blogs you chose for this week, thanks for sharing them and giving us an insight into new reading adventures. Enjoy your toast and candy bar… you deserve it!
Thank you! Really pleased that you like them!
you continue to amaze me with your blog. Well done.
That’s really nice of you – thank you very much!
I hear you, loudly and clearly. Preparation for inspections are deadly.
They’re rubbish aren’t they! I understand why they need to be done, but I can’t help thinking that far too much emphasis is placed on them to demonstrate your ability as a teacher…
Well even if you didn’t have an evaluator give you an Outstanding at work, I hereby give you an Outstanding for you blog.
Thanks Phil!!!
Reblogged this on The Echo Chamber.
I was doing my placement at a very good primary school and OFSTED were due to come in on one of my placement days so I was told ‘Why don’t you take the day off and catch up with your notes’
Yeah OK lol
” inspections from the company that sponsors it.” Not quite sure what this means. Why is a private company inspecting you?
love the kitty all relaxed and melancholy.
Did you stop by my fashion blog yet? launced in December.
truetoyou.co check it out
Hi,
You stopped by my blog at some point, and I like to return that favor. This non-blog entry was enough to prompt me to follow you. One’s composure during and after stress tells a lot, and this one tells me you are someone to associate with, and dig that positive, professional energy.
Thanks.
I’m glad to hear that your stressful situation is finally over. š
You had quite a situation on your hand and you came out very well by yourself. Congrets! I send you the energy that I picked up by swimming with wild dolfins on Hawaii. So good luck with your recuperation! I wish you all the best. Love, Francesca.
Well done for getting through the week Suzie, I hope have a very chilled out weekend to recover from it all. I think this is probably my biggest problem with the whole inspection thing is that you spend so much energy preparing for and getting yourself through the inspection when you could be spending that energy on helping more kids or better yet not burning yourself out. Take it easy.
Thanks Georgia!
A friend of mine just had OFSTED visits. I totally get ya! Love the blogs choices this week.
Thank you! I’m really pleased that you like them!
Oooh – do I EVER get this. But different, but since returning from mat leave last May I have done three different jobs and interviewed for others. So, basically, I feel like I have been being evaluated, fairly consistently, for the past eight months. It’s exhausting. I just want to be comfortable again for a bit. I don’t know how those in the land of constant contract – always having to prove yourself again and again – do it!
Sorry you had a rough week. I gave you a bit of sunshine if it helps at all. It’s my first awards post – and you are really one of the bloggers whose gone out of their way to make me feel welcome in the blogosphere (all those little “likes” add up – and they make me smile) – so I wanted to say thank you!
So thank you! http://babygatesdown.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/awards-awards-awards/
Best – Louise
Thank you so much – that’s made my day!