What a Week ctd(again)....

THURSDAY

I decided to apply for the 3 day job share post. Financially it is not ideal, but with Big J starting school, It will give me 2 days a week to be flexible in case I need to go in to school with him to sort anything out.

There are pros and cons really, many of which I don't think I can write about here as some are related to my thoughts about what is likely to happen and I don't think it would be fair to publish those until those things actually happen - which they will, I am sure! Those aside, I would like to stay at S Infants and would like to finish my NQT year there, I like the people and know the children. I think I am in a strong position to apply as I already know C and how she works, so can use all that knowledge to my advantage!

FRIDAY

Half term - and not before time!

Reports to write though. Well, *&$% that, I'm going on holiday!

What a Week! ctd...

WEDNESDAY

D-Day. This was the day I had been waiting for and dreading. I was being observed first lesson (maths) by the Headteacher and, added to this, by the end of the day she would have told us all where were going to be next year. Exciting for some, not for me. I was going to find out if I had a job for September or not. Although it felt like I was being observed to see if I could keep my job, it was just an unfortunate timing of events and the two were not related.

The observation could not have gone better. Although I didn't get feedback until the end of the day, she made a point of telling me she was very happy with it, so that I wasn't left wondering. She said my planning was fantastic (wow!), I had differentiated (planned for different abilities) well and loads of other really positive stuff. What was really nice, was that she said she appreciated that this was a model lesson and said, "I don't expect every lesson to be like that."

Later that day (ooh, time connective - 1 point! See what too much SATs does to you!) she told me C would be coming back and that unfortunately I would not be staying on next year. She asked if I would like to apply for a 3-day-a-week job share with C, which I said I probably wouldn't. She explained that she would have to advertise it anyway even if I did want it. I felt sick. I love my school. I don't want to go. I considered chaining myself to the railings, but was not sure that would convince them I was the right person to work with their children for the rest of the year! I just wanted to go home and cry, but there was staff meeting in 10 minutes. just a short one in which she was going to announce where everyone else was next year. "...and in class # will be C who is returning 2 days a week." Silence. I looked around and no one looked back at me. The head finished telling us the staffing arrangements. No one seemed desperately unhappy, except me. I smiled politely & probably quite insincerely at the few people who made humourous comments about where they were going to be next year and the children they were going to have. The meeting finished. I was saved the question time about whether I would apply or not by the head who left promptly at the end of the meeting and indicated me to go with her. She then gave me the super feedback on my lesson which made me feel slightly better, for a while...

What a week!

MONDAY
I started the week by phoning school to tell them I wasn't coming in. Little Z had had toothache since Friday night and contrary to my prediction that once Big J's birthday party was over with, she would not be feeling so left out any more and the toothache would mysteriously go away by itself, she was actually feeling worse on Monday morning. I phoned the dentist. They apologised, but as they were down to one dentist (they usually have two) and he was going home at 3pm they were fully booked for today. They could fit her in tomorrow (Tuesday) at 9.20am. Not only did that mean leaving her in pain for another day, but also meant I'd be taking another day off work and at SATs time that is far from ideal. I asked how I could get her seen today as she was in pain. They told me I could call the Primary Care Trust helpline, but they would not necessarily be able to see me today. I called them and, in short, they called my dentist, who managed to fit Little Z in within the next hour! That's like going to the city centre via Totton (which I have done once when I'd just learnt to drive and got into the wrong lane of traffic!). Did they need telling they could not leave an 8 year old in pain overnight? I called the dentist to confirm times etc. They said to come at 10.30 but I would have to wait (like I was going to decide not to come and admit I had been lying all along!). We went at 10.30 (with a bag of SAT papers to mark while waiting) and were seen by the dentist at 10.40. What a wait! We were out again by 10.50 having had pieces of Z's broken tooth removed and the rest filled / sealed. That was not the big event of the week....

TUESDAY
SATs finished. Yes, I know we shouldn't call them SATs anymore, but whatever you call them doesn't change the fact that we are all relieved when they are over - the teachers more than the children! Still not the big event of the week though....

Back to School

Yesterday started well. I wasn't going to be teaching all day as I had NQT time in the morning and year group PPA time in the afternoon. I only had to plan for the supply teacher for the morning as PPA is already planned for us and the TAs just pick up the planning and teach from it, so I don't even have to talk anyone through it. I had a list of things I wanted to do before meeting with my mentor after assembly, so got straight on with them. Then the headteacher came in and dropped a bombshell:

"I have had a call from C (teacher whose maternity leave I am
covering). She is thinking of coming back."

So what? If you are covering maternity leave, you know it's only a temporary contract and the person on leave will return.

Well, I knew there was always a possibility of her coming back, but as she had told me it was unlikely she would come back, had put her house on the market and moved with husband (who has a new job) to London, I thought it was a safe bet that she wouldn't.

She may still decide not to come back, but I have to be prepared to leave in case she does. Part of me is glad they have told me now so that at least I have time to look for another job for September so I can finish off my NQT year, but I can't help feeling sad at the thought of leaving my school. I can imagine working there for a long time.

It did cross my mind that maybe she wasn't going to come back and that it was an excuse not to renew or extend my contract, but I don't think the head is like that. I think if she was unhappy with something, she would say so and actually I think they are really happy with me as I have had nothing but positive feedback especially from the head.

I just hope C changes her mind and decides that it is not the best option to return to school when her hubby is working in London. In the meantime, I am arranging to look around schools and applying for jobs. At least my time at one of the best schools in Southampton is going to stand me in good stead for getting a job elsewhere if I have to.

The head said she will let me know in the next 2 weeks. With SATs as well, the next 2 weeks are going to drag.