DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️ @doc_mermaid Twitter profile

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

7 months

@ThatKateMartin @motoway This happened to my daughter at the swimming pool toilets when she was about 12 and had short hair. She was really scared to use public toilets after that. Scared of being told off, not scared of trans people because all of those she knows are lovely.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

Why are schools under greater scrutiny than the government at the moment?

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

Some of the vitriol about ‘furloughed teachers’, lazy schools, lefty unions and a ‘lost generation’ has just got to me this morning. I am working so hard and so are my staff. And I have my own children too. I am so tired of it all. 😓

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

I find results days really hard because of my daughter’s school refusal and spiral into anxiety and agoraphobia. She never achieved academically what she was ‘predicted’. But she’s alive, we love each other and last night she left the house for the 2nd time in a year. #itwillbeok

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

Reception and year 1 after half term!!! And yet social distancing to be enforced with greater fines! As an infant head my head is in my hands.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

There’s nothing like the middle Sunday of a two week school holiday 😎

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

The DfE have seriously underestimated the testing in schools thing. Just getting the paperwork for consent done will make it impossible to start when we come back. Have they never tried to get school trip slips in?

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

2 years

A serious lack of leadership and judgement…? If that was on my ofsted report I would be losing my job.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Just stepped foot on French soil!!! Love being a channel swimmer!

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

On my daily runs out with the dog I’ve now met 4 parents overwhelmed with home learning expectations. Kids hate live lessons and crying. DfE need to suspend the national curriculum and focus on safety right now. This is a mental health disaster and pressure will put kids at risk.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Just checked my emails. I ordered a case of wine and a bottle of champagne while I was drunk last night 😳🤣😂

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

10 months

My daughter has given consent and instructed me to tell the twitterverse that despite having 58% attendance, she has passed all her GCSEs and is off to college to study acting. I am getting my ‘mother of the Oscar winner’ outfit sorted already.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

11 months

Youngest made it to prom. We never made it before. Proud of her managing how hard it’s been. Proud of her big sister being able to help and enjoy even though it’s triggering. Grateful to a headteacher who won’t give up on his children.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Reading through my timeline, my emails, my WhatsApps and talking to fellow school leaders yesterday I am deeply worried about so many of them. We’ve heard about a crisis in children’s mental health but many schools are being run by people on the edge right now.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

5 years

Advent treats ready for my staff! If they do a job they see that needs doing they can lucky dip a treat. Just a bit of fun and an acknowledgement that they go above and beyond all the time.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

Just putting this out there today. No particular reason.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Agoraphobia update. Two days of feeding ducks with her sister was followed by coming with me to the tattoo studio as I was getting her design inked, AND arranging to get one herself. We walked home chatting and it was lovely. #hope

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

Husband: You might have had one too many gins for a school night. Me: I’ve had one too many global pandemics for a lifetime.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

2 years

It’s a lonely job sometimes, this Headteachering.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Bubble closure on the last day of half term. Feel so sorry for the staff.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

In my dreams this year I will retire, swim, stay up late with loved ones, wear beautiful sustainable clothes, read, sleep, feel the sun on my face, have no plans. In reality I will respond to cockwombling clusterfucking edicts from an elite and corrupt department for education.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

The supply we had managed to book is sick. Our HLTA is sick. All the part-timers doing extra, TAs taking classes, AHT covering PPA. You couldn’t make it up.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

Just unfollowed someone whose tweets have been making me feel uncomfortable but who I thought I ought to follow to keep myself informed. Feeling so much better already.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

7 months

I got offered a position at a swimming school. Starting from the bottom but I’m so relieved someone is giving me a chance to start again! Happy and crying all at once.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Rocking the infant headteacher look today 😂 #dinosaurs @popsyclothing

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

When you arrive home from school at 7pm on a Friday having managed without a receptionist and a caretaker, and finished the day emptying bins, and get to enjoy a present from a wellwisher... Some people are wonderful and I’m going to pay it forward!

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

So I officially came off duty on Christmas Eve. For the last 3 nights I have slept 8hrs for the first time since half term. Coincidence? I can only imagine what else the stress is doing to heads. I really feel for my secondary colleagues right now.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

Two phone calls from prospective parents. I chat for a while & tell them to watch our virtual tour. ‘Oh I’ve watched the video,’ says one, ‘it’s exactly what I think a school should be. It’s like a big hug.’ Never been prouder esp of my rec teacher who made the video.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

When my daughter joined us in the sea this morning my heart nearly exploded with joy. Such a change from a broken heart and a fear for her safety. I sort of hope I never get used to this because it’s wonderful. #agoraphobia #anxietyrecovery

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

Just wondering if I can say ‘no’ to the extra money because I don’t want to waste time on administration and evidencing, don’t want to be judged negatively when it doesn’t have the impact they want, and don’t believe ‘tutoring’ is what’s needed for my infant kids...

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

Reading through the guidance for September again. This jumped out at me. For our children who have returned over the past few weeks the opposite has been true. They have loved bubble school and been engaged learners, working cooperatively with others and listening to adults.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Anyone else’s supply budget broken already?

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Local press read my name against a quote I’d given and assumed ‘Dr Mitchell’ was a ‘he’. I’ve emailed to suggest some unconscious bias work might be needed.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Well that was an interesting 24 hours: passed out 3 times, vomited over my hair, strange acute stomach pain for 8 hours. Woken up feeling like I did an Ironman yesterday. If that’s what the vaccine will do to you I’m very glad not to have had actual COVID. #grateful

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

From a prospective parent: ‘I was getting worried my standards were too high until I came to your school…in such a purposeful, happy and inclusive learning environment it was evident how much every child thrives…your school felt like a special place’. The email I needed today.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

There’s tired. And then there’s closing a bubble on a Friday afternoon tired.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

One of my teachers brought a homemade curry in for me and my family because she couldn’t think what else to do to support me. I nearly cried. And it was delicious. Paid it forward with some flowers for the head of the school next door.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Really struggling today. Really.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

2 years

Covid safe Strictly final with my family in my own house! ALL the sequins!!!

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

2 years

Left work before 5 to go to an art exhibition with the husband. Had a few comments about leaving early but I’d clocked up 53 hours in school already so I think I deserved it. Saw the sea and bought a painting of it. #happyplace #selfcare

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

@Alex_Bramley3 This year a child who is isolating, her sister and her mum did a thank you dance, a traditional thing from their Ugandan culture, and uploaded the video to Tapestry. It was the best thank you I have had in over 20 years teaching in schools.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

2 years

My school (and me) were kept afloat by willing, able, thoughtful and flexible student teachers, TAs and HLTAs today. Covid disruption is not over!

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

With the news that we go into Tier 4 on Boxing Day I’m breaking out the new velvet dress and having a Cosmopolitan.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Intense few days but I now have two new assistant Headteachers and have seen so much potential in my staff. What a privilege 😌

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

We've got year 2 children reading gold books who aren't performing well on phonics. Is there really any point spending time and energy getting them through a phonics test of reading nonsense? Reading is so much more than phonic decoding. #morethanascore

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

My husband has just heard about the one Britain song - I’ve explained that even if I approved of the song it’s not possible to teach a song to 360 children in 3 days and we have other things timetabled. Has Gav ever been in a school?

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Being a headteacher at the moment seems to involve a lot of drop of a hat classroom teaching during the school day and a lot of Headteachering over night. I’m considering just being a supply teacher instead.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Ok husband and I just started watching line of duty. From the beginning!

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

If we are asking children who have been in contact with a positive case to COME INTO SCHOOL to be tested, won’t that make things worse? Or am I missing something here?

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Yesterday I wasn’t the best version of myself. Parenting anxious children is very hard not least because you blame yourself and wonder where it went wrong.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

6 months

Last day tomorrow. Feeling so many big feelings. But mainly anger that the education our children deserve is valued so little by government.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Life is hard and boring and I have no energy for the things I love so I’ve decided to drive my new campervan to school today just to cheer myself up. It’s the small things at the moment, isn’t it?!

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

Is it still world mental health day? I’m just going to be open and say I’m upping my antidepressants today. The cold water swimming and gin just isn’t enough. I’m not ashamed.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

It’s just dawned on me I’m half a stone heavier than this time last year but I have led a school community through a pandemic, mothered two children, dressed for cocktails every Saturday and CAN STILL SWIM A SUB 7MIN 400M. So I should wear this spare tyre like a bloody medal!

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Having a holiday in our new van on our drive!

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

And my teen did her first full week at school since lockdown. #schoolrefusal #anxiety #asc

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

@NAHTnews @tes We have opened but it’s not sustainable without: ✅ Testing ✅ Suspension of OFSTED for this year ✅ Suspension of testing for the purposes of accountability only (SATs) ✅ Additional funding Otherwise I predict the system will crash by Christmas.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

8 months

A bitter-sweet moment. My governors are looking for my successor. It is a relief to have finally told everyone. My last half term in school. Let’s see what the universe has to offer next.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

Sleepless night wondering what to cut from my budget to pay for the things I’ve had to do to be open safely during the pandemic. I have to meet these costs from my existing resources. THOSE RESOURCES ARE ALL ALREADY ALLOCATED!!!!! Staffing, lighting, heating, books, pens...

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Daughter only went and bought herself a tiny cute secondhand campervan this week. Sorted insurance herself and everything! #agoraphobiarecovery

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

Reading tweets on ofsted inspecting online learning... we have committed ourselves to remote learning but not ‘online’. We do not think it is appropriate for 4-7s for whom play is vital. I hope infant practice can be inspected appropriately*. *there should be no inspections

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Turns out grieving for a friend is exhausting. Not just because of waking up all night with the shock, the comforting family or the telling of other friends, but just the effort of imagining a life in which that person doesn’t exist. Who will get me to do crazy things now?

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

2 years

Messing about with the big small one back in Brighton and this guy sneaked into our photo…

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

One of my TAs reminded me to watch the children today. She helped me see that the reason we are so tired is because we are working so hard to enable the children’s success. I had to go back to my office because I was going to cry. In a good way as well as a tired/traumatised way.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

View from my bed this morning! #vanlife #halfterm

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

Wrote my ‘Catch Up Plan’: FUND SCHOOLS PROPERLY {end}

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

When a random lady who is a retired HT sees you crying your way through a musical show and says you need to take some time off you know your AHT was right to insist you work from home #itstoughinschoolsrightnow #letsgetstartedonthosereports

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

1 year

Daughter thinks it’s fixed to be in Sweden next year so there can be a 50 year ABBA rejoining #waterloo

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Snow swim this morning... feeling ready for the week ahead.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Woke up and realised me and my team are swimming the channel TOMORROW!

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Just sent my parent feedback to @Ofstednews @BACA_UK

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

I’m not saying it’s been the most stressful day ever but I think the last time I forgot to wear a bra for school was at least 7 years ago.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

1 year

@educationgovuk So you don’t trust the teachers who have been doing assessments every day they’ve been with the children to know their strengths and weaknesses and pass up to secondary? Have you ever meet a primary teacher? Knowing the kids in their care is their superpower.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Today I feel like the queen of the channel. Not fast, not fancy, but out there proving whatever your age you can do what you love.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

I wasn’t going to do any Jan challenges as I’ve got a pretty addictive personality and they can get out of hand but I’m 1 day and 3m away from having run every day including 50 miles in the last fortnight. Not bad for a 50 something HT with a knackered foot during a pandemic!

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

2 years

All year I’ve held my nerve that giving my infants a play based curriculum would foster the characteristics of effective learning and prepare them for the challenges of Y2 SATs. This week they were up for the challenge AND made their own papers in CP 😂🥰 #10 %braver

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Actually tearful because I was too busy to book a hair cut for half term and now everyone is booked up. My hair is so disgusting. Hasn’t been cut for two years. I didn’t realise I’d feel so upset.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

The girl left the house for the first time in TEN MONTHS. A rollercoaster ride but I’m driving her home now to drink champagne 🥂

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

I forgot to say thank you Twitter for my lovely haircut!

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

When this new dress design pops into your emails when you’re working very hard on self care… what is a mermaid headteacher to do…? 😉🏊‍♀️🧜🏻

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

I took an idea from @Southgloshead and now I'm in tears and I feel the best I've felt all week. "There will always be the complainers out there who, no matter what you do, no matter how hard you are trying will still find fault. But that says more about them than you"

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

I’m going to France this weekend!!!

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

2 years

Ofsted at the school I’m governor for, a child’s broken arm, key staff hit by Covid, parent complaints and the death of an ex-colleague. I’ve had better weeks in this job. #walkinghome #audiobook #completethestresscycle #lifegetsbetter #youcanonlydoyourbest #hugfrommydadhelped

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

My school leader DMs and WhatsApps over the weekend have a singular theme: Can we really do all this again? With the added stress of a ‘business as usual’ OFSTED and the fallout of a year of teacher-gaslighting by the DfE and media? Tips for staying in the job anyone?

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Interviewing today and I swear I’m as nervous as the candidates are. Such a responsibility.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Yesterday I took a child to watch the school washing machine for a bit. Saw our SENCo @jpehughes doing the same. Sometimes we have to make our schools less round for the square peg children. Imagine if we could somehow make the whole world more flexible! #changenotcatchup

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

2 years

@RetirementTales Geoff I think you are one of the loveliest and most compassionate people on Twitter.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Just checked the Covid email and it’s negative. Time for virtual Strictly finals party!

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Fully qualified open water swim coach here! How is everyone else’s Saturday going? #headteacherheadspace #restfromthedayjob #differentsetofriskassessments #fun #openwaterswimming #nowca

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

@afergusonteach1 I’m the head and most of the time I dress ready to play with the children.

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

4 years

Proud of how my team have got our remote learning set up. Work is ready for any child who needs to isolate at any point, and it’s planned alongside in-class learning. Feedback through Tapestry. No live lessons, plenty of PLAY (infants). We didn’t need a law to make this happen!

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

2 years

Got a pretty nice hotel room for our wedding anniversary. Husband watching the woman’s tour, me watching the waves. #silverwedding #25years #relaxed #partylater

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

Last covid email check done! Sparkles on and... RELAX!

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DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

I think I’m going to be taking a break for a while.

24

0

59

DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

1 year

@simonkidwell @Headteacherchat I’m getting increasingly concerned that the debate about this paper seems to centre on the fact that ‘able’ readers got distressed. What about all the struggling readers, the children with SEND and those for whom school is really hard who have been distressed for years?

3

0

61

DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

2 years

Really feeling the back to school stress. Reminding myself of these thoughts for my own children and wondering what my work future should hold.

3

7

59

DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

3 years

It’s 9pm on a Friday and I’m going to bed completely sober. What has leading a school through a pandemic done to me?!! 😂

4

0

59

DrMermaidXHeadteacher🧜‍♀️

@doc_mermaid

2 years

@tes @educationgovuk Do you know what? We already consider all options when we have staff shortages, and we risk assess based on our context: SEND, cohort, available space, classroom size, competence of staff, support staff, first aides, DSLs, age of children… and we take decisions based on that.

5

3

55