Alex Rawlings @MrARawlings Twitter profile

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Alex Rawlings

2 months

If anyone is interested in seeing our Teaching and Learning Framework, come and have a look at it here! Lots of people acknowledged at the end of the doc.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Secondaries are closed because most teens can be left at home whilst parents work. Primaries are open because parents won't be able to work if children aren't at school. The decision isn't about health, it's about the economy (as ever!)

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

If a teacher is able to have work-free evenings and weekends, don't demonise it! Bottle it and share 'how' with everyone. Sometimes the answer is to care less and not feel guilty. Perfectionism can be as destructive as negligence.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

1 year

Since being Head, I've tried to actively live some core values. Humility being one of them. Sounds daft, but I always park in the bay furthest from the school entrance - it reminds me I'm no better, no more important, and no more skilled than my colleagues.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Forget the news about whether or not we can travel abroad - I just want the children to be able to use the hall for lunch!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

Received a card today from a child with English as an additional language...favourite card this year! 🤣

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

Fellas - if someone sends you a WhatsApp with a joke about MG, make this the first time you challenge them! #masongreenwood

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

This has got to be one of the most 'EYFS' things I've heard of. It's glorious! Love the direction our setting is heading in.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Made BIG changes to our remote-learning offer this week: - regular no-screen wellbeing slot - no more Hist/Geog/Sci/MFL/Computing - pm sessions focusing on healthy hearts (PE) and healthy minds (PSHE/Music/Art) If Ofsted come knocking, tough. This is what OUR community need.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

Honestly...teachers these days do not know they're born!!!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

Walked into school today to see our cook, Brenda, baking crown biscuits. Such a small thing but a beautifully gentle nod of respect and gratitude that the children can take part in. Got a school full of leaders. Thanks Brenda!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

When a child tests positive and you check the register to see that they haven't been at school for 4 days before being symptomatic...

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

My child is now of the age where she starts revealing household information to her Nursery teachers. 'Daddy sleeps naked and has a sweaty belly' (I don't!!!) Wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't their boss!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Forget your LFD tests for Primary staff...you need a 'Taste Test Station'!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

5 years

Horrendous racism aimed at one of our school families, so the staff and children in our childcare sent our own message today! #loveisstrongerthanhate

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

The booing of other countries' national anthems is so embarrasing.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

1 year

Sparing a thought for the more mature teachers. Some spent a decade or more of their careers being labelled as boring, obstructive and grumpy because they didn't buy into the glitz, glamour and frills of the debunked guff that was poured into schools over the last 10+ years!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

11 months

We're focusing on kindness at school. My TA other-half spends most nights crocheting tiny animals to pop on a child's desk before they come in to reward their kindness. They love it!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

7 years

NQTs please listen to this salient advice! Do not dismiss applying to schools that are not yet OFSTED good or outstanding. In RI schools, you can see amazing teaching/teamwork/support/camaradarie. Find a school and a team that suits you. Not the OFSTED rating! #primaryrocks

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

1 year

I'm convinced one of the biggest inhibitors to school improvement is having teachers with full timetables. In primary schools, finding the time to actually collaborate and tap-in to the significant knowledge and experience of the teaching staff is so difficult!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Why is the UK's death rate so poor compared with other European countries? Government ministers: 'You really can't draw comparisons to other countries!' Is it too soon to reopen schools in England? Also government ministers: 'Well when we take a look at Denmark...' 🤦‍♂️

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

Been thinking about this a lot... If you work in a school with sig levels of deprivation your job is 10x harder than most ⬆️ Safeguarding demands ⬆️ Behaviour issues ⬆️ PP responsibility ⬆️ Recruitment issues ⬆️ Support for parents Before you even talk about learning deficit

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Maybe it's just me, but Edutwitter seems to be severely lacking current class-based teachers with 20+ years of experience actually teaching. Think it would be a far less reactive and far more rounded place if they had more of a voice on Edutwitter!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

5 years

Third day as Head - first day with children in. By 11.45am a Y2 girl told me I was the best Headteacher in the world. This headteachering lark is so easy! 😂

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

Sports Day today for KS1 and KS2. The weather was glorious and it was brilliantly organised. Favourite parent comment: 'So when's the parent race? I've put a TENA lady on especially!' 🤣

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

Just sharing this maths resource - been used in Year 3/4 this term. I loved using them back in the day!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

5 years

Seeing a lot of 'Deep Dive' question guess-work. We'd all love to know the questions, but the best thing you can do is make sure you know the OFSTED 'good' grade descriptors...it's all there! The visual descriptors from @amazingholt make them easy to digest!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

5 years

When did 'Quality First Teaching' become a thing... Am I being ignorant, or isn't that just what teachers have been trying to achieve forever!?

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

Thinking of setting up a Multi Academy Trust. It'll be called 'The Hands Off MAT'. We'll be looking for schools who know what they're doing and just want to be left alone to do it. Any takers?

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

We don't need a #circuitbreaker , we just need a couple of inches of snow. The country will stand still for months!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Yesterday was puppy day!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

7.30am - logging positive staff cases 7.30pm - logging positive staff cases This is not sustainable.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

8 months

Dear School HR, Please do not ask me to score an ex-employee's 'sparkle' on a reference request again. It makes me feel physically sick. Regards.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Extra £6000 for the average primary to support disadvantaged... @GavinWilliamson my school has lost £14,000 of funding for disadvantaged because you changed the date for pupil premium figures in the census (to suppress the funding to schools!) I'm £8000 down! This isn't extra!

Sky News

@SkyNews

4 years

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson says "we are looking at a broad range of different actions" to support children in schools after the government announced an extra £400m to help children in England catch up on lost learning. Read more:

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

7 years

If I taught Year 4 tomorrow and handed them a times tables test they wouldn't bat an eyelid. If I taught Year 4 tomorrow and handed them a times tables test and said, "You're doing a high-stakes national test - GET IT RIGHT!" they might be upset. Just do it the first way.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

5 years

I'm going to be a Headteacher next year! Can't wait! Thanks to all who have supported me in one way or another over the past few years. Twitter has been instrumental!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

1 year

Transition days, sports days, summer fayres, leavers assemblies...they'll all just be moved or modified. School leaders and teachers will make it work - we planned remote learning overnight two years ago. We can manage and support two days of disruption next month.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

This annoys me. I can't get in early - my kids are at two different schools this year and drop-off is tricky. I get up at 5.30am so I can work before. I go home at a reasonable time as I refuse not to see my kids for at least two hours a day. I am ALWAYS thinking about school.

Whistleblowing Teacher

@WhistleblowingT

3 years

By DM: If your headteacher consistently arrived at 8.30am and was always gone by 4.30pm latest (usually earlier), would you have concerns?

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Not sure why I didn't consider how much a puppy would impinge on my sleep...worse than the kids, even they know that if there is a 5 on the clock it's too early!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

As 'target-setting season' approaches - worth thinking about where the focus should be. Do chn/staff really need targets?! I don't think so! Thanks @TeachPrimary for asking me to write an op-ed - nice to see your thoughts in print!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

Until schools stop being punished for being inclusive, schools will be resistant to being inclusive. The system needs fixing!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

If anyone needs a Catch-Up Plan linked to EEF Covid-19 Support Guide for Schools. Ignore the content (not consulted on entirely) but the headers and format might be a helpful start!

Covid Catch-Up Premium Plan - September 2020 - Quarry Bank Primary School.docx

drive.google.com

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

Working on my appraisal...'hold colleagues to account' has popped up a few times. Wouldn't it be far more productive if we were asking school leaders to 'motivate colleagues to succeed' instead?!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

In the next few weeks we are going to see hundreds of posts of glorious displays ready for September. For those of you like me who hate doing boards, I am living proof that it is possible to avoid doing one for 12+ years and going strong. There is hope!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

6 years

A 'knowledge-rich' curriculum IS NOT: - knowledge vs skills - facts vs fun - at the expense of creativity A 'knowledge-rich' curriculum IS: - a commitment to using/remembering what's been taught - a leveller for all - designed to make links and support future learning

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

Moving house, came across my secondary school yearbook...well, well, well!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Probably the easiest close of the appraisal cycle I've ever done! (Probably the hardest year we've ever experienced mind!)

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

I'm completely converted, sharing interview questions prior to interview forward makes for fuller, more detailed, and less panicked responses. (Tried sharing with s/listing letter vs 30mins prior to interview - 30mins prior best!)

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

I'm sure most schools and leaders have made their plans for September already, but if you need a prompt, here is ours organised in the same way as the guidance. Hope it helps!

Quarry Bank Full Opening Plan - September 2020.docx

drive.google.com

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

Moved house yesterday This is the carpet in my daughter's room. Reckon it's a keeper!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 months

Every primary school in the country trying to squeeze a school values assembly out of this picture tomorrow morning!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

Have you even had a Sunday Dinner if you don't have strawberry jam with the leftover yorkshire puddings!?!?! 👨‍🍳

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

6 months

I (sadly!) couldn't be happier with our staff subject leadership badges! ✅ Staff ownership of subject leadership ✅ Acknowledgment of the importance of individual subject disciplines ✅ Colours to match those on the old NC(!) (or just some nice badges)

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

1 year

Great question! I'll start: 1. Double PPA 2. Appropriate support for SEND pupils 3. Reduced curriculum expectations

Peps

@PepsMccrea

1 year

@JamesTheo What would make teaching sustainable?

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

We wondered about getting a collie too - went for a cocker spaniel instead. She. Is. Mental.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

1 year

Currently... 7.45am - 4.30pm = Fire fighting 7.30pm - ? = Doing the jobs I didn't get done in the day

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

5 years

I teach my first lesson as Headteacher tomorrow, with the rest of the staff in the phase watching. It could go fantastically well, which will give us a lot to talk about. Or It could be a diabolical lesson, which will give us a lot to talk about.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Having a planning format ≠ not trusting staff Mandating weekly planning on the server by Monday am so SLT can scrutinise = not trusting staff

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Here's a link to my school's plan of return (not complete) but might be a good starting point for others. If anyone is inclined to read and note glaring lack of compliance then DM! Used some of the same headers from a previously shared document.

Quarry Bank Return to School Plan.docx

drive.google.com

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

Can't stop thinking about Ruth Perry - poor poor poor lady. I know some good people who are part of @Ofstednews but they're working in a structure that just does significantly more damage than good.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

FULLY-funded. Please, God. Fully-funded.

Censored Head NPQEL 🙋‍♂️ 🇺🇦💛💙

@CensoredHead

2 years

Pay offer incoming I would imagine, following an invite to a meeting with the NEU tomorrow. Thank you to all those NEU members whose efforts have made this happen. Let us hope it is worthwhile.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

7 months

It's on the board (which is half the job after all!)

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

5 years

Cant believe it passed without a mention - yesterday was the halfway point this academic year...we're on the countdown!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

I've been meaning to take my lateral flow test for the past 3 hours. Keep forgetting and eating food.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

5 years

I wonder...are there any schools remaining open solely so that parent teachers can attend work at their school, so that their school's parent teachers can attend work and so on? Are schools just keeping one another open for the sake or remaining open...

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Adopted an idea from East Whitby Primary ( @smithsmm - thanks!) If anyone wants a template to make your own Wellness Day activity grid for your children to access, then download from the link 👍

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

This is the face of a hero (Dad on the right). For the past 6 weeks he's been 3D printing face shields 16 hours a day for my sister's care home, my brother's police station, and now my school. Mum would be so proud!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

1 year

Summer holiday work schedule Phase 1 - write massive to do list Phase 2 - object to do list - 'it's my holiday and I deserve to switch off!' Phase 3 - final weekend of break. Panic intensely about work not done!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

10 months

A lot of folk share their successes on here, few share their failures. Ive made plenty as HT (and will make more). The most painfully obvious is branding our Quarry Bank Primary School wraparound care as 'Little Bankers'. A public apology and rebranding followed 30mins later.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

8 years

Why is this the first time I'm seeing this?!?!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

Went around school during the virtual parents' evening drop-in to check staff were all OK. Nursery team asked why I hadn't logged in to discuss my own child... 1. Completely forgot that it applied to me 2. Her school report is still in her bag from Friday Poor kid!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

6 years

Ive taken a different approach to #WorldBookDay2019 this year! Focused on the teachers! A stack of new books for our #CPD Library. With each first book taken, the teacher will receive an afternoon out and a £5 @CostaCoffee voucher to get them started!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

It's been 3.5 years in post as Headteacher and I've had my first ever 'the last Headteacher was better than you' parent comment. It's a good job I'm surrounded by brilliant people and have a healthy amount of confidence in my ability!🤣

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

1 year

Still unable to accept that colleagues in some LAs are nearing the middle weekend of their two week half-term, whilst we've still got a week of school left before we enjoy our single week off. It makes me feel physically sick...(with jealousy and self-pity in equal measure!)

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Had to get home on the dot tonight, needed a 45min walk through the woods with this one to clear the mind. I honestly don't know which way is up and I'm so desperately disappointed in our government.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

1 year

CPD on making our modelling more expert. Love the analogy of passing the baton and the complexity of the 'we do'. Pass it on too late and you slow them down. Pass it on too early and they drop the baton.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Forget private tutoring and Summer school. Schools will teach better than they ever have done. Steely focus on prior learning, sensibly moving through the curriculum. Headline-grabbing quick fixes can't make up for lost time. Invest in considered, high-quality teaching!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

Just a thought... Target setting is a waste of time. Not met a primary pupil yet who has truly attained higher for having a target grade. That time is better spent supporting teachers' CPD and developing systems of teaching. Systems over targets any day of the week!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

First time in 6 weeks that we're not awaiting test results for children or staff - the weekend is mine!!!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

@PrimaryCoHead Our LOA policy is LA-adopted and says the same but my bottom line is nobody wants to be at a funeral. Nobody wants to experience that upset. If they ask its because they need to go. And who the hell are we to determine who's close and who isn't?!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

The Gaza Strip is safe, it's just the bullets flying around that make it dangerous.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

Think there needs to be a clearer way of aligning Primary to Secondary behaviour expectations/understanding. The amount of times we (Primary) will say that 'child X' won't last a day in Secondary is worrying. Is there a Secondary perception that Primary has soft expectations!?

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

Best birthday present ever!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

If you want to know how much your EY team trust you, go on a school trip with them. I was allocated 2 children in my group. Its as if they comsidered that I only had 2 hands and would struggle beyond that! 🤣 Great day!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

Seeing more Headteacher jobs popping up - expect some will be filled by 'young heads'. If you're young and humble, you'll probably get on OK. If you're young and arrogant, you're going to struggle. I've learnt more in these last 3 years than I ever did in the preceeding 10!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

Prediction: The Primary Assessment Gateway will collapse at 7.20am. There will be an email at 4.00pm explaining an unexpected and unprecedented demand on the site caused instability issues and to login at a less busy time. We will revert back to 2am SATs results checking!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

That was a long time coming! Thanks to @MiaJone75626831 for helping me across the line (and start...and throughout..!)

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

1 year

This is what end-of-term-tired lunch meal prep looks like this week!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Death has a funny way of putting life on hold too... These headlines are bloody terrible. BBC News - Covid school closures 'put children's lives on hold', says Ofsted chief

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Well...as long as the children feel safe and looked after. (nearly broke me!)

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

When you have to hire an ice-cream for the whole school just so you can get your own little girl an ice-cream 🤣😍

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

5 years

I love this - coming over, stealing our jobs ... supporting our economy, making sure crops don't rot in the fields! hmmm This is the sort of thing that everyone needs to remember once we're through this!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

It doesn't pay to be an inclusive school: ❌ Less relative funding ❌ Less staff capacity ❌ Increased challenge ❌ Higher accountability But it does feel good: ✔ Work with amazing children ✔ Doing the most important work ✔ Moral righteousness!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

5 years

I'm increasingly appreciating the difference between the quality of teaching and the quality of the curriculum. As good as teachers are, without a solid curriculum, its like building a house on sand.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

3 years

A class came out of their 'bubble' status today. Child asks, ' Do we have to stay in our bubble today?' I say, 'Nope, you're free!' Child immediately throws her arms around me for the tightest hug a Child has ever given me. Made my day.

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

6 years

Checked in with one of our NQTs Fri pm... Me: Do you need to do any work over the weekend? NQT: No...should I be? Me: Absolutely not - see you Monday. Great litmus test for workload!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

5 years

Government: Today ✅ You can't simply compare provision made by individual countries - locality is a huge factor. ✅ Data doesn't tell you enough - so performance comparisons aren't valid. ✅ You must base your response on expertise and research. School leaders: Forever🤦‍♀️🤦‍♂️

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

2 years

Hidden costs of running a school in an area of deprivation... Subsidise almost everything so enrichment activities are cheap VS charge full cost for everything! Run wrap-around care at a loss to support parents in finding employment VS charging a fortune and generating income!

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

The difference between 'Headteacher Alex' and 'Teacher Alex'. Teacher Alex was running around all morning getting lesson prep sorted for the 8.45am deadline. Headteacher Alex has time to tweet. Kudos to teachers working their asses off non-stop (especially my QB allstars!)👏👏

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Alex Rawlings

@MrARawlings

4 years

Me: Staff, I've asked a lot of you and arguably pushed a little hard - I'll do whole-school remote learning on Fri am to give you time to catch up. Staff (broadly speaking): Cool - thanks Me:

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