Christmas!

Not really, but you knew that. Although, if you've been in any shops in the last few weeks it's certainly coming earlier (copyright Daily Mail, inbetween moans about Christmas being rebranded as Winterval and Health and Safety wonks spoiling displays with their pathetic concerns about unsafe wiring).

Anyway, after an eventful last week to the first half term of this academic year, we can look forward to working on our aims - becoming an outstanding department. This aim is a serious aim, for us as individuals and professionals, and for the young people we work with. You might have noticed that the world is an interesting place right now. We are preparing our pupils for an increasingly uncertain world; youth unemployment is up to 20% for under 24 year olds, and their chances of getting into higher or further education seem further away than ever, thanks to the punitive and unfocused nature of the government's pathetic response to the global financial crisis - caused of course by the richest and most powerful 1%, at the expense of the already vulnerable and disenfranchised*.

*Link contains slightly grown up language which may offend those of a sensitive disposition, or who believe that corporatism is an acceptable way to run a society.

What does all this political nonsense have to do with us? It impoverishes the minds of the people we work with; it intimidates them, and has, for generations, kept bright, capable people down. We are all aware that context has been ripped out of any judgments made in terms of the quality of education. This is, clearly, a deliberate attack, aimed at schools and cohorts such as ours - and it stems from the busted flush of neo-liberal and corporate ideology which pervaades society at all levels thanks to the leaders we have suffered under for the last 31 years. It means we work with less, whilst being expected to create more. I don't know about you, but I always thought that alchemy was discredited.

However, you are magicians. I've seen, as have you, the outstanding results we can get - whether it is a single lesson, a piece of controlled assessment or a child attaining beyond their potential. This term, we are going to (finally!) begin making this a consistent reality. We've had another agenda so far, which, thanks to your hard work and brilliant attitudes during the period of scrutiny and the run up to it, we completed successfully. Now we can get down to our real business. Sharing success, working together, learning from each other. The talent is within us all; the general atmopshere on the corridor is testament to that.

It is time for us to occupy education. It is time for us to create our vision for excellent English teaching at our school, to work together and with the pupils to create an outstanding department, which gets results for all, and prepares people to compete and succeed in the world. We have started to move, so let's ensure that we get there - not strolling, or cruising, but moving, purposefully and deliberately.

English teaching steel in the hour of chaos!

Incredibly, this fifty four week long half term draws to a close this week. The Beckett like wait for Ofsted has been a personal highlight. Interestingly, a bloke in the pub knows someone who has a cousin in Brighton who spoke to a lad from a school that was inspected just before us last time. He has no idea when they're coming either.

Rubbish satire, which bites like a haribo addicted ninety five year old, aside, the way you've dealt with the pressure this term has been excellent. I'm sure we have all had our tricky moments - I certainly have - but the general feel of the lessons and corridor has been extremely good. As long as we maintain a focus on engaging and purposeful lessons, we'll be alright.

We've a heavy marking load coming up - controlled assessments and year 8 exams prominent - but it's a rewarding task; it's when we start to see the end product of our hard work. Thanks for your progress reports, and completing them on time. I checked a couple of year groups, and was struck by the amount of greenery present. That's a testament to your work in itself.

Let's keep the learning going; try to finish the half term with a flurry of positive reports. I'm aiming to record some pupil voice - I'd love it if some of you volunteered to grab kids out of lessons when I'm teaching. I should have a camera ready during the week, with any luck.

Thanks for your work, effort and positivity this half term. It hasn't been easy, but we've done it. Just five more to go...

Floored!

Today, I have spent 7 hours blow drying laminated flooring, teasing it off a plywood base, levering the plywood off the floorboards and tearing carpet and underlay up.

All because of tiny little larvae which burrow into wood.

Whinging new home owner? No. It's a rubbish extended metaphor. And a tenuous one at that. Those smart little buggers drill into wood, lay eggs, which grow and fly off to find more. We need be more like this at the present time. Set ourselves up for the mid to long term. Work smart, and hard, so that the fruits of our labour bloom when we need. Sorry - the awful extended metaphor has now become somewhat mixed.

Essentially, let's just make sure we keep doing what we need to do, doing it well, and with a smile on our faces. It's been a tough half term to start the year, after a few other tough half terms, but we are well set to overcome and make it a successful start to what will hopefully be an excellent year.

Have a great week, and get done what must be done! Especially the teaching. That's the fun bit.

Post at haste, repent at leisure.

Good evening fantastic English department. Tonight's somewhat truncated blog post comes from the middle of a war zone. Or a house where I've tried my leaden, unsophisticated hand at DIY. It's hard to tell which it is now.

Thanks, once more, for your consistently willing attitudes and the way in which you're bearing the continually pressurised build up. It's certainly an interesting experience.

Your work on Friday appears to have been detailed and thorough, for which I thank you all, especially Helen and Lorraine for their leadership as I was off (not going enough miles far enough for Mr Gove, probably!)

Let's keep the effort going and remember that the important part of what we do is the teaching.