Comments | midnightmelody: Bring it on

midnightmelody

Bring it on

Jul 26, 2010 10:28

Today at 9.48am I started work (officially) for Teach First.

In 2008, one in five 11-year-olds did not reach the expected level in their English tests ( Read more... )

Comments 8

emperor July 26 2010, 09:48:30 UTC

Are you at UWarwick this week too, then?

midnightmelody July 26 2010, 10:03:39 UTC

Not yet, but at current estimate it looks like I'll be around from this Wednesday - next Wednesday. If you and/or Sally have any free time during evenings or the weekend, it would be great to meet up!

emperor July 26 2010, 11:22:13 UTC

Ooh, that would be good. I will see if logistimatics can be achieved...

midnightmelody July 26 2010, 11:43:59 UTC

*nods* No worries if not, I know you tend to get booked up months in advance!

ashfae July 26 2010, 12:57:13 UTC

Yay for you!!

(The comment has been removed)

midnightmelody July 27 2010, 08:58:09 UTC

I've got bits to finish off on the other project, but nothing near full-time! My new office is

Am trying to figure out new job - but something around improving pedagogy and progression to Triple Science/A-levels in science and perhaps maths.

hairyears July 26 2010, 18:47:12 UTC

I recall, with something less than pleasure, a particularly bitter cartoon from Steve Bell.

A teacher with a 'Sponsored by McDonuts' tabard is supervising children being tested at the age of five in The Exam For University And Life: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR FATHER EARNTwo of them are receiving in-test assistance from bright and beatifully-turned-out 'supplementary tuition assistants' with tbeir pockets stuffed with tenners.

The cartoon's dated 1990; I understood it less, then, than I do now. I believe the situation 'IF...' described with Bells's characteristic venom has grown worse since then; paid-for 'supplementary tuition' was unknown in the city I grew up in at that time; now it's common and, to my disgust, I have been told that pupils at the city's 'posh' state school are not entered for Oxford without a never-mentioned but compulsory 'bank' of paid-for tuition with a comma in the number.

I fear that many of your students will be submerged in the culture of exactly that type of school.

midnightmelody July 27 2010, 08:52:07 UTC

In that case I guess it's fortunate for us, but perhaps unfortunate for them, that we're not teaching in the 'posh' state schools! One of the most common interests of the TF teachers as recent graduates is in supporting students with their UCAS applications and providing extra (free) tutoring for students to help them prepare for university.