Well which is it to be? After 18 years of teaching at the same secondary school I gained a new position still as an AST but teaching photography in a school near by. The last ten weeks have been some of the most challenging of my teaching career - what have I learnt?
1.To be more sympathetic to NQTs and new staff because I now remember what it feels like!
2. You have to earn respect and it takes time.
3. No two schools have anything like the same admin systems and you need eternal patience and ingenuity to work them out.
4. Staff are the same in every school - you have explorers, tourists and saboteurs everywhere - find the explorers and work with them.
5.The support staff are your best friends (the site staff took pity on me and gave me the lift code on week 6 of me struggling up 3 flights of stairs hour or so!)
6. Be true to your values, the kids will try you out because you are new - they will come to understand why you are doing what you are - so that they can learn.
7.Keep your sense of humour - accept smaller steps of progress than maybe you are used to - it's still progress.
8. Chocolate is the answer (what was the question??)
9.Ask for help and advice if you need it - you are never too old to learn.
10.If all else fails- resign and go freelance!
