Old Primary Head @Oldprimaryhead1 Twitter profile

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Old Primary Head

21 days

New blog: Serving our communities shouldn’t feel like a life sentence.

The Leadership School of Hard Knocks – 25 Years to Life…

Serving our communities shouldn’t feel like a life sentence. I spoke to an ex colleague last week. Asking how they were getting on in their second year of headship. I knew them well and had helped …

oldprimaryhead.com

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

3 years

If at 8 today all schools are to close... does not making children come to school today not rank as one of the worst decisions you could make?

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

1 year

I am fed up,with the defenders of @Ofstednews saying parents need grades. They don’t. Most parents want a decent local school and when they are not happy they usually let you know in no uncertain terms. Saying they need grades is insulting to parents.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

3 years

Lovely card received from a parent today… if only!

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@Oldprimaryhead1

1 year

Just going through the children’s suggestion box… hmmm?

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

2 years

Are there many things better in a school than walking down the corridor to hear a class laughing as a teacher reads a story they are all so invested in?

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

2 years

Staff meetings Jan 22… Chenin Blanc and Smoked Cheddar… whilst re- introducing Beryl the ex teacher who can’t wait to step out of retirement to work 50 hr weeks covering 5 staff.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

Schools have never been less closed. To all those teachers handing over weekly hampers, teaching in halls without PPE, phoning, endlessly TEAM meeting, reporting and checking in... to the leadership teams constantly adjusting. #respect

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

This has been bugging me all week... working in Specialist Education means you work with some children who are very vulnerable to illness... why has there been no extra guidance for special schools this week? I am struggling with this.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

What it now becoming increasingly clear is that School Leaders are mainly dealing with Covid related crisis management. Any standardised educational expectations the DFE have this year needs to be put to one side. Leaders need to see their communities through this pandemic.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

22 days

SATs do not improve Year 6 teaching - they restrict it. SATs do not inform future learning - Secondary schools mistrust them. SATs put huge pressure on schools, especially those in more deprived areas, or under Ofsted pressure. SATs are just another accountability system.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

Never in all my years of being a Headteacher have I felt so under pressure from Unions and the Government. Both are putting headteachers in to impossible positions...

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

There goes wet playtime...

Coronavirus: Do not meet others indoors during rain, PM urges

Moving gatherings indoors could "reverse all the progress" made during lockdown, Boris Johnson says.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

1 year

Ruth’s sister is the most important voice in the Ofsted debate. She is so eloquent, grounded and passionate. She absolutely needs to be heard… as do headteachers. @Ofstednews you have got it wrong… carry on like this and you lose us all.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

The best thing Micheal Wilshaw has ever said, “The great majority of children have suffered hugely over the last six months, particularly poor youngsters, and if we err on the side of generosity now, no-one will blame the government for that and no-one will blame Ofqual for that”

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

So to recap... head teachers have done everything to carefully and safely accept more children on Monday whilst it would seem the world and its dog has crowded every beach within a million miles...

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

5 years

How many schools think that Wellbeing is a forced social event? It’s not... staff Wellbeing is about reducing the pressure within the job itself. A forced social would add pressure for me.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

3 years

When Ofsted arrive in January do we Swab them?

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

2 years

Chuffed dad today… daughter who never found school easy got her ABB and got in to her First choice Uni. Really proud of her.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

7 months

Got my Ofsted report (which I won’t specifically comment on). The reality is - no matter how pleased you are the whole experience is a damp squib that can never justify the years of stressful build up… ever. The system MUST change.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

2 years

Left my daughter at university today… feeling rather fragile.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

3 years

Did a little teaching today and got this! In your face losers!

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

1 year

When I get the Ofsted call I will ask. What experience do you have to inspect and judge a 0-11, all year round, 7:30am to 6pm organisation with a 50 place Special provision at the heart of the school? I have been a headteacher for 20 years and know it can’t be accurately done.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

5 years

Today’s Blog: Facing up to the impact of stress in school leadership. A difficult blog to write this one. #ukedchat

Lead Well – or die trying.

Oh, in no time at all This’ll be the distant past Father John Misty – Ballad of a dying man Very recently I have had to admit to myself that I am not made of iron; that I cannot just ri…

oldprimaryhead.com

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

6 months

One of my favourite Tim Brighouse myths/ truths was that when he became Birmingham’s Director of Education… he was almost sacked because no one saw him for two,weeks… when he finally arrived at the council houses he was asked where he had been… his reply… visiting schools.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

Schools have been battling to help children who need it to ‘catch up’ for decades. We have made some progress. Throwing hundreds of millions at summer schools is not the answer. Systemic change in the system is.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

1 year

Schools are judged by strangers who have a day to get under the skin of one of the most complex of places. They judge this in the context of a lack of funding to LAs, SEND services, social services, mental health services and health services. Heads are judged not governments?

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

5 years

My one and only headteacher tip: Stand Up... No matter what comes your way it will be, at worst, a weeks worth of stress. Just keep thinking- what do I need to do to just stand tall? And just do it. It is your school and you deserve to be there. Remember why you got there.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

3 years

Am I right in thinking that the Government now want schools to run a track and trace system for potentially over 500,000 people a day for less than the 22 billion spent on track and trace? E.g- for free... Within a few weeks?

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

11 months

Last night… over twenty 17 years old arrive for party at house… not happy but go with sons wishes…. 11pm… they may have been a little noisy… they may have drunk a bit… but they tidy up and quietly leave. This generation leave the past to shame.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

1 month

A few years ago I was quitting education… today this happened. I have too many people to thank… but you know who you are.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

5 years

Dear @educationgovuk here’s how finance works. If you don’t have the money- funding your very generous 2.75% pay increase will mean making people (the biggest cost in schools) redundant and therefore we will just have LESS but slightly better paid staff in our schools.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

1 year

This statement just shows how detached from reality Ofsted are. Amanda Spielman says ‘inspection only touches a minority of people in the school.’

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

Confirmed that I am live on Good Morning Britain from 6 tomorrow... boy do I need a haircut. 4 am is an early start isn’t it?

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

7 years

Every breath you take Every move you make Every bond you break Every step you take I'll be watching you #ofstedmusic

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

8 years

Let's give a big Twitter 'Whoop' to all those Year 6 teachers who are at the chalk face of results and did everything they could this year!

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

After many meetings about protecting the vulnerable through the current situation I just keep thinking why has this never been an issue during the 5 week summer holidays? Or any holidays? Surely this now means things have changed irreversibly?

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

3 years

I know not what everyone feels but personally have always felt summer holidays too long. Four Weeks more than enough - then add a week to October and Feb half terms (adding in a useful circuit break to autumn 21 and winter 22) would level this out.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

1 year

Last time I voted not to strike. I hoped that sense would prevail. I will now strike and stand by my decision. My reasons? Lies and unfunded pay rises. Headteachers are gasping in a toxic environment where national leaders will not listen to them. This has to stop.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

3 months

Imagine a head teacher saying they would ‘punch someone’ if they were rude… Ladies and gentlemen, meet our education secretary.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

6 months

To anyone who cares about education… new and old. Take a little time to find out about Sir Tim Brighouse… you will only gain from this,

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

2 years

Meeting with LA today and told we are known as a school that gets sh*t done. Never felt prouder in my career. It’s true. But hardly going on our vision statement- though I wish it could! Come here because we get sh*t done… about as good a vision statement as I have ever read.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

8 months

… being a headteacher, right now, is a whole new level. After 20 years I feel for new heads, as well as those who have a career ahead of them. This job is becoming impossible. That is a national shame. We know who is to blame.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

6 years

My mum is rather talented. She's making this massive sensory caterpillar for a Nursery...

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

Suddenly realised that when you have no Easter break or half term you get ‘REALLY’ miserable... I just want some normal. ... right got that off my chest so let’s look at that risk assessment one more time... and then weep into my cup of tea.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

2 years

Ofsted … looking forward to people who can critic my school in 48 hours when, after 20 years of headship, I am still finding my way.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

Going to put this out there. I think I might just break if I had to deal with Ofsted right now. The thought of having to sway focus when it’s taking everything to deal with the day to day - week to week - right now would feel like a kick in the gut.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

5 years

We opened despite the snow today. 252 children in... amazing day and yet still the criticisms for opening? But the love and positivity FAR outweighed this. I even got a hug from an NHS nurse! That's why we open, so emergency services can do their job. If we can, we will.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

1 year

First thing my very experienced Y6 teacher said about the reading test today was… it tried to catch them out. Some of those questions were just fooling experienced readers. Good readers making a mistake because of wording.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

3 years

Just asked Alfie for permission to share this… as leaving gifts go a first draft of your book is pretty special! Alfie is 11… what a talent he will be when he finally finishes his novels. You heard it here first!

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

5 years

Imagine this has already been said but can’t stop thinking what Micheal Goves forgiveness would have been like when he was Secretary of State for Education if it had been a headteacher confessing to taking cocaine.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

7 years

The hardest thing about being a head teacher is dealing with so called 'adults'... the easiest thing is dealing with children.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

2 years

I’d take the scrapping of Ofsted over a pay rise every time… a win-win for the education sector right now. Good for head teacher and teacher moral… good for finances in education.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

It is taking 2 brilliant and very experienced staff until 12 to fill in the new @educationgovuk registers. At a time when they are under massive pressure... Is not one person who makes decision like this able to understand how a school operates?

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

1 year

Does anyone think @educationgovuk has any idea how strongly head teachers feel about the state of the system? Education is a car crash of head teachers either leaving, gone or thinking of going. If this was an Ofsted report for the DFE it would indicate Special Measures.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

7 months

Meet Chewy… School Dogs are game changers.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

8 years

A great answer to one of this years grammar questions...

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

1 year

I think I am fed up with people who don’t DO head teaching who tell head teachers what they should be doing… There’s going to be a national shortage soon, so just put your money where your mouth is.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

7 years

Experience tells me this. Don't over celebrate a good year or over criticise a bad one. Keep a balance and perspective over SATs results.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

3 years

Got the call late yesterday that all my Specialist Staff could be vaccinated today... a frantic few hours and now getting emails to say it’s happened. So excited. Massive thank you to Mendip Special School for making this happen and including us! Feel a little emotional.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

There is NO school reopening strategy. It is an expanding capacity strategy. We are open.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

Ok... positive ME. Still emotional after a parent ran past me on my daily walk stopped, ran back and just clapped. That was such a kind thing to do.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

2 years

A massive thank you to all the people emailing me tonight and lovely posts about my schools response to a terrible incident outside our gates. We are all well and good and proud of our community response.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

Where do special schools stand... every child has an EHCP? I was down 17 staff yesterday. That hasn’t changed today?

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

5 years

I have done many things as a headteacher but trawling through CCTV to see who has been stealing the MILK from our Nursery is right up there in the Low List.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

1 year

Retirement from Headship

I have been a head teacher for almost 20 years and therefore announcing that I was ‘retiring’ in a national newspaper yesterday because the job had become almost impossible made for a difficult rea…

oldprimaryhead.com

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

I am hearing that some schools are saying SUPPORT staff are not key workers, only teachers. They are KEY WORKERS and schools can not function without them. Read the guidance and stop saying this. Any support staff being told this should make it clear they are a Key Worker.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

7 months

Finally, after also 6 years and me ruining every one’s day by saying, “Ofsted are due…”. They have knocked on the door.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

7 months

Recent Ofsted experience: 1. The inspector was excellent… deeply knowledgeable 2. We knew what to expect and that is what happened But, nothing will change my mind. Ofsted inspections MUST change. They must do what is needed to improve our schools without attacking them.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

6 years

Bloody love my school. Love the children. Love the staff. Love the community... it's easy to say this but I SO acknowledge how how hard it is to do. As hard as it is... I still love each and every second...

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

3 years

Seriously... I feel quite sick reading this. Maybe we should ask the people currently delivering the 22 BILLION pound test, track and trace program to also provide full time education? We could share?

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

8 years

Love this POEM from a boy with Tourettes. Beautifully put. Please read it!

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

3 years

17 years a head… finding this term the hardest by quite a stretch.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

1 year

So, why is it @Ofstednews make you not tell anyone what the outcome is? Seriously… that is total and utter rubbish. How can you have such an event with so many people involved and then say nothing… one of many reforms #ofsted need.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

On a scale of 1 to 10 of difficult days... 15. Utterly gutted and empty. Early night.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

7 months

This morning I can physically feel the weight of Ofsted lifted off of my shoulders. It is a blissful thing.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

3 years

Notes from this mornings DFE briefing, “Let’s get schools to lead the UK’s space program...” #slackers

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

2 years

Ofsted tomorrow! ‘Whoop!’

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

7 months

High winds, wet playtimes, wet LUNCHTIME and Ofsted looking at behaviour. Can’t wait for tomorrow! Someone sort the weather out please.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

So we plan, we consult, we ask so much of our staff... and then NEW guidance suddenly appears that should have been there before ANY announcement... Can Ofsted inspect the DFE because I see incompetence and inadequate leadership on far too many levels.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

7 years

Welcome to Budget time... respect to this governing body.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

7 years

Now is the time. Headteachers. SATs do not work. The unions no longer seem to listen. We need to do this ourselves. DM me - now is the time.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

3 years

Who in the government has a real grasp of what is happening on the ground in our schools right now? I am hearing of more and more closing due to staffing shortages and grave concerns for staff health and wellbeing. Why is this not an issue?

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

10 months

What is utterly awful about the glue gate travesty is this… a good teacher lost their job. They didn’t want it… they were just a victim.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

8 months

No ifs, no buts and no more excuses… have you seen the poverty statistics released today? Have you heard about how many children are suffering due to the fact their parents can’t afford basics? Oh I know, let’s get into a fight over RSHE!

Gillian Keegan

@GillianKeegan

8 months

No ifs, no buts and no more excuses: parents have a right to know what their children are being taught. I have acted today to make clear that schools must share RSHE materials with parents.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

1 year

Just heard someone got the Ofsted call at today’s conference. They left in tears.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

Sick of this - schools are failing children - narrative The decision on schools rests with the gov. We have 150 children in school and have not closed once since lockdown. We have offered provision in school to anyone who has needed it and met gov criteria. Stop bashing schools

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

Dear Gavin, if I had children shouting out how they are better than everyone else I’d be having a quite word and showing them how to be classy.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

3 years

Any one else blown away by the kindest of local Buisness and community donating laptops at the moment? We are being overwhelmed... one Buisness said, sorry we don’t have laptops but here’s £750... community 4 government 0.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

GCSE day for daughter... what a strange day. So proud of her and anyone who taught her over the years... you know she didn’t always find it easy... a big thanks. Nothing lower than a 5, lots of 6’s and she even got a 9 in her fav subject! Just brilliant.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

3 years

Word up to all the head teachers holding the line right now... it’s flipping hard and, if like me, you may feel unstable... we have got this... most likely... damn me- we HAVE this... this weekend at least...

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

3 years

I don’t care what your educational views are- every head teacher should stand with @Miss_Snuffy and condemn the hate she is receiving.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

So, government advice is becoming MUST wear face masks in enclosed areas... And in Schools? Remove them at the door... where is the science in this? This is about as unscientific as you can be.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

Meet Brian... he’s recouping after a week of 64,000 pointless DFE guidance updates.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

Just read a tweet from a school account - school shaming about opening. Utterly despicable behaviour. Every school has its own context and professional understanding is needed right now- not scoring points over local schools...

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

2 years

So, small schools are 5 times more likely to be inadequate according to Ofsted data… stay classy Ofsted.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

5 years

Kind of fed up with people who have never led in a school telling me how to lead a school... I'll get over it of course.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

6 years

I am becoming of the opinion that it's not schools that need extra funding - it is local authorities. How have we let this happen?

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

Any one else as in LOVE with The Queens Gambit as me? Best TV of the year so far.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

1 year

No last time… Yes this time. Please vote fellow @NAHTnews school leaders. This government need to understand that they can no longer lie about funded pay rises and ignore teacher well-being.

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Old Primary Head

@Oldprimaryhead1

4 years

Why issue guidance after guidance expecting schools to plan for a June the 1st date when the science clearly contradicts key statements within it? Embarrassing. The 28th or 29th of May decision is a joke leaving headteachers a weekend to inform a community @educationgovuk

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