Schools cannot claim to prioritise teaching and learning if they don’t have centralised detentions. The amount of time/energy otherwise required could be better spent on the things that matter. It also creates variances in workload. Totally unfair. #edutwitter

This is the 8th education secretary we’ve had since 2020. Seriously though- do we even need one? Personally, I think schools need to spend some time being single for a bit before we jump straight into another toxic relationship. #edutwitter

Just finished. Highly recommend to all educators. It is worth knowing more about how ADHD is diagnosed and how the idea of trauma has evolved significantly over the past decade or so and the impact this has had.

Supportive colleagues are the best ✌🏼. #edusky

Many years ago I was at a toxic school that (the term ‘toxic’ to describe schools didn’t even exist then!) bullied out staff who refused to do Saturday sessions. I discuss it here with Dylan and Hayden on the Teach, Repeat Sleep podcast: open.spotify.com/episode/6RJ3...

Ep 86: Workplace Bullying, Toxic SLT & Teacher Martyrs: Omar Akbar (The Unofficial Teacher's Manual)

open.spotify.com

If you start coming into school on Saturdays to do voluntary revision sessions (paid or unpaid) soon enough, it will become the expectation and you’ll feel pressured, no matter how much you’re told they’re optional. Keep Saturdays OFF the table.

Today’s fail: Kid: Sir, what are the numbers between 5 and 8? Me: (looking perplexed) 6,7 Whole class: six seveeeeeen. Me: 😩

Something has to be done on a national level about parental ‘complaints’ on social media. Not only are they often highly dubious/slanderous (and unevidenced) in nature, but there can be a genuine threat posed to school staff due to their public nature and the hysteria caused.

Dear educators, make sure you read this. Eye opening to say the least. Needs and preferences are not the same; labels are not always helpful. #edusky

Tomorrow we celebrate the end of Ramadan- Eid al-Fitr. We pray. We see family. We give charity. To everyone celebrating, Eid Mubarak to you and yours 🤲🏼❤️ To people of all faiths and none, may be peace be unto you. #edusky

Building a relationship is not a substitute for a robust behaviour policy. Yes, relationships are important and a fun part of the job! But don’t gaslight teachers into believing ‘they have to like you first.’ They don’t. When they respect you, they will like you.

Feeling good already ✌🏼 Happy Friday!

Ramadan Mubarak to everyone celebrating at #edutwitter. Sending everyone - of all faiths and none - good vibes. “Lead such a life that when you die, the people may mourn you, and while you are alive they long for your company.” Peace be unto you all 🤲🏼❤️.

I’ve come across many teachers who’ve been forced to lower their standards. Not because they want to but because teaching disruption free for even 5 mins is exhausting and/or impossible at their school. For their sanity, they continue - ignoring disruptors, hoping learning takes place. Sad.

“Every time I start talking I am interrupted, turn by turn, by at least 8 pupils. I can’t even give an explanation. When they’re finally silent for 30s, 3 pupils will raise their hand to ask to go the toilet or an inane off topic Q. Repeat for an hour. I’m quitting.”

Shout out to the one teacher at every school who is the sole reason why the ‘managing difficult conversations’ INSET for middle leaders exists. #edusky

I predict that ‘edutainment’ will make a comeback.

I’ll take it 😎. #edusky

Throwback to the time when a year 7 kid shouted ‘keep to the left!’ in an empty corridor and it took me 3 days to realise it was me she was shouting at. #edusky

I’m probably late to the party with this, but kids can’t tell (analogue) time any more and I’m not sure how I feel about this. #edusky

Research has shown that if there is a male teacher with a pony tail at a school, the chances of him being a physics teacher increase by 850% #edusky

Serious post: Look after yourself this year. Nothing is more important than your health- mental and physical. Few things in life are worth compromising these over. Prioritise diet, exercise and sleep. All the best tomorrow. You got this 💪🏼. #edusky #wellbeing

Shout out to everyone who’s just going to read a book and will probably be in bed by 10.30pm. #edusky

Apart from the fun stuff at work, I don’t celebrate Christmas. But as a Muslim, I believe that: ‘A person is either your brother in faith or your equal in humanity.’ So Christmas matters to me because it’s celebrated by you ❤️. Merry Christmas and peace be unto you.

Whilst the holidays give us time to think and reflect, for many, they can give us too much time to think and reflect! Check out my 5 tips for managing anxiety during the hols: #edusky open.spotify.com/episode/5oo4...

5 Tips for Avoiding Anxiety During the Holidays

open.spotify.com

You gotta prioritise your wellbeing in the hols… Here’s how:

First Monday of the hols and of course I got #bodyclocked at 5.51am 😩 You? #edusky

Good morning new followers and thanks for the follow! #PGCE #ECT need some help with the lesser discussed stuff in teaching?. Check out my first book on Amazon. Some good advice combined with humour and honesty. The perfect teacher-stocking filler 😊. #edusky

Whatever you do today/tomorrow… Do NOT give the kids ‘free time.’ Just don’t. #edusky

This, 1000x @trythisteaching.bsky.social