Hmi are coming!!!

[miffy]

In September I moved to a new school who are currently in special measures, i literally hit the ground running. It has been a real challenge for me there, issues re building, lack of resources, lack of trained and willing staff!
Worked my little socks off, HMI/Ofsted are now expected next week or possibly the week after to re visit the school and to look and see if it has improved since July when it got another inadequate grading.
Boy do i and the other new SLT members and of course the other teachers and support staff feel under pressure.
None of us could work any harder we are all completely cream crackered!!!
I actually feel so tired my head is swimming!! I am so tired and i am now worried that i won't have the energy to perform at my best which i so want to do and i don't want to let the children, school, parents and other staff down.
I am up here on the vine so early because i have woken up worrying about school.
I have been working from 7.30am everyday until at least 11.00pm to enable everything that has needed to be addressed to be done and have not had any time to get up my lottie, relax or do anything not school related really since i started there.
I am not moaning it was my decision to go to a challenging school, and i really love it there and i am making a difference just needed to get it off my chest so to speak. Thanks guys.

[Incy]

Miffy,
Good luck with your inspection. Sounds like you've all been working really hard to turn things around. Being in special measures is never easy so I really hope you get the result you want and can continue the good work having had the improvements recognised.

[Hans Mum]

good luck from me too Miffy, hope all your hard (& long) work gets the results, am sure all your colleagues. parents & pupils appreciate your efforts x

[Bigmallly]

My stepdaughter has just left a SILC & unfortunately the staff & schools for these kids do not get the recognition & support they greatly deserve. Good luck Miffy.

[Headfry]

Good luck from me too - its not an easy task - Well done you whatever the outcome today. You should be proud of yourself, a lot of people would have walked away, you have embraced the challenge. (wish we had a pat on the back icon)

[Flummery]

It shouldn't have to be this way - but life's a bummer. It will give you the chance to enjoy Chritsmas and any productions the children are doing - and then the holiday of course. Reminds me of the old saying 'It's only my tension that's holding me together.'

[OllieMartin]

What's the difference between Ofsted and a plastic surgeon?

Plastic surgeons 'tuck up features'...

No, I'm sure you'll be fine really

[Glutton4...]

LOL Ollie - nice one!

Miffy - good luck with the visit - it'll be fine, you know it will! Just take deep relaxing breaths and stay calm.

Oh yeah, and keep us posted!

[SlugLobber]

You have my utmost admiration, Miffy. Everything crossed that your hard work is recognised next week and you can celebrate with your colleagues (and pupils!).

[snuffer]

Mrs snuffer is the deputy head at a school in Notingham. Quite often when we meet new people their first response when learning what Mrs snuffer does is; 'ooh lucky you, all those holidays'. If only they new how hard the teaching and support staff work in our schools they would soon realise that those holidays are very much needed.

If school staff were paid for all the overtime they put in they'd all be able to retire at 45.

Good luck with the OFSTED inspection miffy and don't let the b*%$£^ds grind you down.

[selfraising]

I sympathise with you miffy. We had OfSted earlier on in the year, fortunately it went well but the stress levels for staff went through the roof, we were all absolutely knackered. Good luck!

[RedThorn]

{{{hugs}}} Miffy. I know first hand how difficult it can be working with OFSTED. Jo had a fantastic inspector, I on the other hand was not so fortunate. Here's hoping you get a fair inspector. Bless you for taking on a challenge and all the best that it bears the fruits it deserves!

[miffy]

Thank you all so much for all the very supportive and fantastic things you have said about teachers and schools, we so often get blamed for all the bad stuff and the holiday thing is what folk say to us most.
I am in school tomorrow with colleagues to do some of the displays in the corridors and also to clear up outside as we have been having building work done and we wanted to make sure it is all looking fab for Monday.
I will let you all know how we get on. Plan to rest on Sunday so i can re charge my batteries.
Thanks again very much for everything you have said, it is so very much appreciated.
Love Miffyxx

[winnie]

Good Luck Miffy-hope all goes well. Enjoy your Sunday and try and relax! I know how the pressure gets to you-I'm a classteacher and don't sleep well for worrying about school, although for slightly different reasons! We had a 'good' ofsted and now the head is expecting outstanding at the next one! The presure that this brings is almost unbearable too-we ask ourselves since when did 'good' mean 'not good enough'??? I spend from 8 am til 6pm in school every day, plus do another 2 hours each day at home. In addition I spend between 2 & 4 hours at school every weekend just to keep my head above water. Friends who are not teachers say that I should work 'smarter' but it's not that, it's the mountain of paperwork etc!! Between now & Xmas, our head is observing everyone to make sure that all our lessons are 'outstanding'. It'll be first one to a nervous breakdown at this rate.
Will think about you next week xxxx