Retired teachers.
Responded to The Call in 2022.
Purveyors of Hope. An allegory.
Everything you imagine us to be.
May 31 • 23 tweets • 4 min read
Parting Words #5: A Changed World
In this thread, I'm going to reflect a little on the impact that the pandemic has had on children, educators & schools.
I apologise at the outset if this is sensitive, particularly for those who have experienced loss, hardship or suffering.
🧵
2/
You might wonder why we've chosen this subject matter for one of our final posts.
The truth is, if it weren't for the pandemic, Margaret and I would never have returned to the classroom.
And so, if it weren't for the pandemic, Retirement Tales would never have existed.
Dec 18, 2024 • 66 tweets • 11 min read
It's time!
🎹🎶🎄
We'll pop some music on while everybody makes their way into the hall...
Sep 29, 2024 • 23 tweets • 5 min read
An Announcement:
"All Good Things..." 🧵
Margaret and I came out of retirement back at the very start of 2022.
At that time, schools were struggling with staff shortages and the then Education Secretary launched a campaign to encourage retired teachers back into classrooms.
1/2/
Margaret and I answered "The Call".
We took a pact.
We initially said we would stay around until the wind changed, a bit like Mary Poppins, yet even more maverick.
Jun 3, 2024 • 15 tweets • 3 min read
10 reflections on the education profession, from 2 old timers:
1. Our education system is currently in a very fragile state, from the early years to higher education. The next Government will need to grasp the scale of the problems very quickly. This couldn't be more important.
2. Our nation's nurseries, schools and colleges would likely collapse if it weren't for the tenacity, commitment and enormous good will of the workforce at every level.
Good will has always been a trait of school life; now it's almost a prerequisite.
Nov 29, 2023 • 6 tweets • 1 min read
Reflections on Health and Work:
We need to talk about stress caused by/related to Ofsted.
We also need to talk about stress in general.
We need to talk about mental health.
We need to talk about physical health.
We need to talk about the effects of working when unwell.
1/6
A survey of more than 3000 education professionals in 2022 found that:
75% of all staff were stressed.
84% of senior leaders were stressed.
78% of all staff experienced mental health symptoms due to their work.
47% of all staff always go into work when unwell.
2/6
Jul 21, 2022 • 57 tweets • 9 min read
It's time for Geoff and Margaret's first (and possibly last) End of Year Assembly.
No sign of Hugh Jackman but maybe he'll surprise us later.
Everybody sit up straight and face the front!
Let us begin...
