Diary of an NQT
SCHOOL FOCUS SCHOOL FOCUS
Misbehaving student to G6
THIS WEEK, I believe that one particular aspect of help remedy matters and it has made a small degree
Winner of
teaching has finally clicked for me, and I think the of difference, but I am ultimately unimpressed with
job is going to get even more interesting now that I my results so far. the SecEd
have made this realisation. All this means that it is not possible to regain my
Now chess is one of those games that is a bit like attacking position within the classroom context, and
Headteacher’s
Marmite, so to speak (bear with me!). I feel I have been forced to back track and am
While love maybe too strong a word, on the defensive.
I certainly would say I like the game So, I am now deploying other tactics
PA of the Year
A story of success
a lot. drawing upon my chess strategies!
However, in recent years my Initially, I drew out the seating
Award in 2008, Pam
participation in chess playing has plan on paper. I looked at which kids
sadly been extremely low – the influence each other and the part or
Waters, is crucial to Forest
internet provides some sanctuary role each one can play in upsetting the
for me but even when playing classroom dynamic.
Gate Community School.
against a friend online it lacks that The end result looked like a draft
level of human interaction and these war plan for a battle offensive!
“virtual” games have a very different To help with my new-found strategy,
Susie Sell visited the east
feel. I am also drawing up “playing cards”
Chess is a game that lends itself for each pupil on which there are various London school to meet Pam
to many inter-twined tactics and subtle different areas that I “score” them on
mind games. – from specific attitude traits to
and find out more about
Tricks like taking your time to their influence on others and what
“think” about a move that you are route of praise or sanction needs
already certain to make, or taking a to be taken. Each pupil is going to
this amazing institution
long time to capitalise on a blatant require some action, be it positive
mistake of your opponent are all or negative and now the key for
simple ways to wrong-foot the me is to draw on support across the N A small room off the design and technology
other player and gain the upper school board.
hand. By mapping it out like this and
My point is that, in essence, tackling specific issues with each of the
composing a classroom seating plan is class group individually – and along with
like setting an attacking chess board. the knowledge and support of other staff – I
You have different players whose hope to get things up and running again. I
department in the depths of Forest Gate
Community School, 18-year-old Sanjog Paul
is proudly showing me the quality of the
printed tee shirts he produces here.
The company was set up as part of an
enterprise exercise the school ran three years
characteristics can negate or counteract those of Looking back to the beginning of the year, ago, when Sanjog was a student there. The printing
others, and some good positioning can leave little this lot were actually one of my favoured classes business has since been encouraged to develop and
room for the opponent (in this case a disruptive or and I want to get them back to this position before the continue. While this may seem like an alien concept,
unruly class) to manoeuvre. end of the year. We have made progress, but I don’t this is just one aspect of what it means at Forest Gate to
As I have discussed previously, I have a want to be left feeling that I have only done half a job be a business and enterprise school.
challenging class with behaviour issues that I have with the class when the summer comes. The status means that the school specialises in
been working hard to tackle. In the past, I had turned business and other related subjects, such as maths,
a blind eye to a few of these problems which, as a • This year, our weekly NQT diarist is Charles manufacturing and ICT, as well as in enterprise.
result, have escalated over the course of the year and Aubeeluck, a qualified citizenship teacher who Students are constantly encouraged to use their own
have become the norm. teaches sociology and health and social care at initiative, develop problem-solving skills, take risks,
I thought a new practical scheme of work would Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls in west London. and work together to achieve their aims.
And it is paying off. The success rate for Applied
Business is 74 per cent and above the school average.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families
Moral support
also recently announced Forest Gate as one of the most
improved specialist schools in the country.
Specialist status was awarded in 2004, three years
after the arrival of headteacher Margaret Wheeler, and it
Intimidation and division
is certainly not the only change to have happened since school, even to the extent of visiting a museum or
she took over. Under Ms Wheeler’s watch, the school is visiting London.
constantly in a state of flux – it never stands still. “A few years ago, while working at another school, I
THE LAST fortnight has been quite a time for Among the most frequently cited problems we Andrew Webster, associate assistant headteacher, took a group of year 7s into London. We were standing
members of the government. Whether these are encounter during the hundreds of thousands of explained: “The school is very forward-thinking, with in Parliament Square and one of the kids said: ‘Where
the death throes of a once seemingly invincible interactions we have with teachers every year are learning and teaching at the centre of everything. are we?’ It just goes to show that in communities like
administration, or a momentary affliction before the issues of bullying and difficult relationships with However, it’s not just a case of taking on new initiatives: this, kids often do not get out of their local area.”
Labour’s eventual recovery; whether you view the other adults at work. everything we do is fundamentally linked to how well The day therefore provides trips to museums or
in-fighting, resignations and general anarchy as the Unfortunately, the pressure that league tables, or how much it will improve our students, be it their the theatre, as well as workshops in a wide range of
gratifying comeuppance of an arrogant and aloof inspections and sheer workload causes for lives or careers. We care a lot about the students and areas, from rock-climbing to mock interviews and CV
regime, or the result of dexterous manipulation headteachers and other school leaders can sometimes how they develop.” writing.
by their political enemies and the misdirected manifest itself in negative working relationships with The most recent example of this is the regular Mr Webster continued: “It’s the life-skills and life
frustrations of the electorate, it is difficult not to form colleagues – ranging from unrealistic or inappropriate “Enterprise and Enrichment Day”, which has been experiences that a lot of children in urban education
a strong opinion of recent developments as Gordon demands to overt bullying. running at the school since September last year. miss out on, because their parents can’t afford it, or
Brown and his allies and detractors within the The stressful environment that exists in The day is a two-pronged offensive. Workshops because their parents haven’t experienced it themselves.
Labour Party experience far greater pressure many schools also causes an intolerable are led by all staff, including administrative and If you are going to break this cycle, it’s got to be the
than they have yet had to endure. strain on relationships between support staff, to encourage students to participate in school.”
When those afflicted by anguish or teachers. challenges, enterprise workshops or running their own And Forest Gate Community School is certainly
distress – whether self-inflicted or While workload, pupil mini-business. The focus is not just on making money making efforts in this area. Unlike many other schools,
not – are also those commanding behaviour, and long hours – it also highlights the importance of social enterprise which offer these kinds of experiences once a year,
positions of great power and a good undoubtedly take their toll, for a and fundraising for charities is therefore high on the or once a term, at this school the Enterprise and
measure of affluence, it is highly significant proportion of those who agenda. Enrichment Day is delivered on a Friday once every
tempting to engage in schadenfreude. contact Teacher Support Network However, Mr Webster, who is also the enterprise fortnight.
Certainly those working in the the prospect of having to deal and enrichment day co-ordinator, explained that another While there is huge emphasis on this providing
public sector that experience intense with colleagues and managers key aspect is the enrichment aspect of the day. these experiences and skills, the school is also grounded
pressures at work on an everyday basis also causes great trepidation He said: “Many of our students don’t get the sort in delivering the more traditional aspects of education
may find some satisfaction in the fact about going to work, reduces their of experience that a lot of others may get outside of as well.
that those who hold authority over much confidence as teachers, and damages Dr Sophina Asong, head of development, teaching
of their working lives are now beset with their wellbeing. and learning, and second deputy head, told me: “We
similar hardships. Some would argue that it is not want to give them a really rounded-education and we
Nevertheless, the nature of our work just the nature of the profession that offer experiences that they do not have at home, but
at Teacher Support Network means differs for ministers from teachers, we cannot forget that we must also make sure that they
that we are very familiar with the but also the nature of those involved come out of school with the right number of GCSEs.”
repercussions that pressure at work that contributes to the state of At the time of the school’s last Ofsted report in
can have on the mental and physical belligerence that currently seems so 2006, the proportion of pupils who achieved five
health of both the individuals and, just prevalent in government. or more GCSEs at A* to G grade had improved
as importantly, their families and people Nevertheless, with ministers considerably. Results are now significantly above the
close to them. However tempting it may be describing themselves as isolated, national average, and are improving year on year.
to gloat at the difficulties of our politicians, bullied and even unwilling to continue What is this down to? “There is one word for it,”
we cannot take any pleasure from the problems in their positions, I could not help be says Dr Asong, “Margaret.”
that others are encountering, whatever their reminded of some of the calls we have “When an organisation thrives it is mostly down to
profession. received since my arrival at the charity. the people driving the change, and that’s the leadership,”
Despite this, a comparison between one aspect A climate of bullying and mutual she continued. “All the time we are working the results
of the experiences of the cabinet and those of resentment may be in part caused by the and the learning, and directing students in the right way
teachers is particularly interesting. Accusations pressures on working environments as a whole, but to ensure they achieve their best.”
have been leaked from those at odds with the prime it is still up to the leadership of that workplace to This is a pertinent drive, as Forest Gate Community
minister that he rules through smear, division and address it. School is fully inclusive and because of this, the school
intimidation. Just as the PLP is looking to Gordon Brown to has an above average proportion of pupils with learning
Those close to Brown have defended his style, address the divisions and antagonisms of their party, difficulties or disabilities.
saying he is trying to provide strong leadership amid we should look to headteachers and school leaders to Ms Wheeler explained: “We have all levels of ability
unprecedented pressure. Certainly this “pressure” is themselves tackle the culture of bullying in schools. at the school, and this means learning is very hard for
manifesting itself on once close working relationships some students. We therefore are very committed to the
within the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), with • Julian Stanley is chief executive of the Teacher fact that we want every child to do their best, not just
one-time partners now irreconcilable enemies over Support Network. Visit www.teachersupport.info or the most able.”
the party’s direction, and with political rivalries call 08000 562 261 (England), 08000 855088 (Wales). In order to achieve this, there are various support
spilling over into intensely personal attacks. Moral Support returns in a fortnight. and booster classes to help those students who are
struggling. The newly created “Jump Project” is a
8 SecEd • June 18 2009
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