We’ve had a few Parents feeling worried about their child’s progress over recent days. This isn’t easy to resolve right now, but here are some things that I hope will ease your minds...
1. We get it - it is so hard at home to keep pupils going, especially when they feel fed up of the situation. School leaders understand that as lockdown goes on it gets harder and harder for everyone.
2. Just do the best you can. Over time anything you can do to help your child will help us. We are so grateful to you for sticking with it. When there are days when it’s hard at it’s ok (teachers have hard days too!👊)
3. Please try not over-worry when you hear the ‘falling behind’ narrative that will get louder over the next few weeks. Every pupil up and down the land is effected by this, and we will do the best we can to fix it. Like all schools will.
4. We have 15 days until the half term break(in our context) - let’s try and take it a day at a time. We will all have up days and down days. When your child has a down day don’t be afraid to let school know - we are here to help.
5. For me it matters more that your child remains happy and feels supported. Sometimes the key to doing well in school is how happy and content a pupil is. Actually - this matters more than perhaps we realise.
6. Young people are amazing. They are resilient and can adapt. Our job is to make sure we keep them interested in learning (I actually mean keeping their spirit of curiosity alive!!). We need to smell sure when they set foot in school again they still have that spirit.
7. Most of all (and this is important) THIS WILL PASS. And when it does we will get back on with core business. But right now? We do the best we can. We are in this together - but sometimes together doesn’t mean being in the same place. 💪💪

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More from @HT_StMonicas

20 Jan
Some thoughts on proposals for @Ofstednews to inspect remote lessons.
1. I imagine this is really about compliance. Schools have been given guidance as to time/expectation/delivery models. I see why the regulator needs to do this - it’s is public money. BUT...
2. Remote (whatever that means) is new. And it is iterative. Imagine judging a first time father when he changes his first nappy. It’s the same with staff who are learning how to re-teach their subject in a totally new medium. All someone could really do is advise..
3. There are so many contextual delivery models and there is no accepted ‘best ways’. As such judging is almost impossible. Who is to say that a hybrid model is better than fully live? As a Headteacher i wouldn’t a fireplace salesman.
Read 8 tweets
16 Jan
Grade Awarding 2021 - a thread.
1. For pupils and parents; it sounds daft but there isn’t much you can control right now. Teacher will play the main role in awarding grades, and there may well be some time or formal exam for subjects. But we don’t know exactly what yet.
2. What we do know is that all work pupils have done, their resilience over such a difficult time, their drive to keep going will make a difference to them. It’s never been more important for pupils to keep going, and keep engaging with the provision a school provides.
3. To our pupils? Have faith that the work you are doing will pay off. Please don’t lose heart right now. We love you lots and we all want you to excel. We are always here for you.
Read 11 tweets
13 Jan
Today we completed our first onsite testing walkthrough. Here are some thoughts..
1. Planning is vital. We looked at a number of phases- planning , training, communication and walkthrough. Rather than rush we have tried to plan so it works effectively.
2. Our plan made clear who the key site operatives were. It’s vital that the right people have the right roles. We designated 3 site leaders and have made sure that they are all SLT. We were lucky to get some help from Bury LA. 👍
3. We have made sure that all people in the core testing team have completed all the training (sounds obvious), but this helped in the walkthrough as we could all spot errors etc. One of the leads led a full team online briefing yesterday, and training completion was mandatory.
Read 8 tweets
8 Jan
Some observations on the week;
1. School leaders nationally have done an incredible job. The logistics of moving to instant remote learning is mind-boggling. The profession as a whole should be proud. And people are welcome to express some appreciation.
2. Teachers need time and space to deliver raised stakes remote learning. Systems/delivery will evolve over the next few weeks. I’m so proud to lead my teachers. Tech may let us down at points though. If someone’s internet goes down at home (as has happened) don’t ‘report us’ 😩
3. Support staff in all schools need as much recognition as teachers. These people in my context deal with attendance, well-being, handing out laptops and testing. Never think a school is just full of teachers - support staff are gold dust. We couldn’t function without them.
Read 8 tweets
4 Jan
For the parents and pupils of @stmonicas - a thread.
1. Parents please do not worry about what will happen over the next week. We have already put in place measures for Thursday and Friday. I will share further information in the coming days when we have processed new guidance.
2. Year 11 pupils - we are not yet clear what the next steps will be for you. You know that we will as ever to everything we can for you. We love you all very much and are so proud of you. You need to keep working as we will still need to do assessments when you are back in.
3. Year 10 pupils - you need to keep committing to your studies - we are proud of you too!! Every lesson we offer you needs to be embraced so you can achieve aswell as you can.
Read 7 tweets
2 Jan
Being a Headteacher today- a thread.
1. I’ve been following numerous tweets about teachers being pitted against HT’s or SLT today. I’m don’t pretend to speak for anyone but myself, but here is my two-penneth. I’m a secondary Headteacher.
2. I’m tired of this back and forth. It is frustrating when @NEUnion make statements that initially seems designed to ruin my day. I know that’s not what they are doing but that’s how it can feel. I am expecting ‘the letter’ to arrive anytime now.
3. As an HT my anger comes from the inability of national leaders to work into the way they expect our sector to. There is a deep-seated frustration amongst educators that we are held the most stringent levels of accountability, but are led by people with..
Read 8 tweets

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