I achieved my MSc in Psychology, October 2015.
The same month I started my PhD in Film.
Deliriously happy, though parenthood, work and study is something I need to adapt to quickly - you really don't get a lot of time for a PhD all in all!
Thursday 31 March 2016
Sunday 16 February 2014
Application sections
I am 37, but apparently need an academic reference. I have no idea why, as a teacher, I need someone to agree I know my own mind and am suited to the course, especially when I'm the one paying the tuition fees, but.. no. No, I don't get it..
Tuesday 11 February 2014
Post
Today my GCSE certificate arrived! Now to scan it in and attach it to my application - along with the other qualifications I've managed to gain along the way :)
Thursday 30 January 2014
Open Evening
Tonight was Open Evening at Uni. Strangely enough I was incredibly nervous. It was just like going for the first time, only I look an awful lot older these days! At least knew that this was the right thing for me, and had checked out lots of options and courses.
I spoke to several tutors, and the final one specialised in forensics. Either she was a great actor or she was genuinely pleased to be talking to me about my interest in the course. It's been a long time since I felt so enthused and excited by something. I'm hoping I have a good chance of getting on the course - as in crosses my fingers and toes!
The only issue I have is trying to get hold of a copy of my GCSE certificate (I know, who thought I'd ever need those again, right?!). Luckily, my scraping a C in Science was actually useful. Without it, I wouldn't even be a contender!
So tomorrow I need to get onto the WJEC and see whether they can help me. Here's hoping :)
I spoke to several tutors, and the final one specialised in forensics. Either she was a great actor or she was genuinely pleased to be talking to me about my interest in the course. It's been a long time since I felt so enthused and excited by something. I'm hoping I have a good chance of getting on the course - as in crosses my fingers and toes!
The only issue I have is trying to get hold of a copy of my GCSE certificate (I know, who thought I'd ever need those again, right?!). Luckily, my scraping a C in Science was actually useful. Without it, I wouldn't even be a contender!
So tomorrow I need to get onto the WJEC and see whether they can help me. Here's hoping :)
Wednesday 1 January 2014
The way of things
So, it's been in the back of my mind brewing, for quite some time.. but let me start at the beginning.
I qualified as a teacher in 1999. Teaching was one of 2 possible careers I had considered. (The third was dragster race, but we won't go into that, because I'd neither the skill nor resources to pull that one off!). I loved teaching. Even when it was bad, I knew I was making a difference and helping others, whether it was academically or personally. I'd been assaulted, stabbed, punched, kicked. You name it. Nothing had put me off. I say nothing - there was the government.
Here's the thing. Every time Education becomes a shining light, the government/management always take credit. Every time it was seen to be failing? Clearly the teachers at fault.
I got tired of seeing management roll out flowers and do a whole school clean-up, when Ofsted where coming. I was tired of seeing the 'problem kids' shipped out for the few days they were in, so they didn't harm the schools reputation.
I guess, at the bottom of the pile, you get tired of being the whipping boy.
All my Ofsted inspections were good, and then outstanding. I enjoyed them coming in and seeing what I had done with my classes, but the situations that made me feel sick was the immense pressure that senior management put on us. There wasn't any support or encouragement, it was that unhelpful 'you will perform or you're in trouble' attitude, that you see so often from the SMT that have lost touch with reality and traded their soul for a bigger pay check and less actual work.
So, now you know what it's like in school, try hearing it in the press all the time. Headlines like 'teacher abuses student', 'education failing due to poor staff', 'teachers overpaid' etc etc. No mention of the 14hour days most staff put in. The fact we work constantly through our holidays and rarely have time to see our families.. That along with the actual teaching and resources we have to create, we've got reports to write, books to marks, assessments to carry out, parents to be on call for 24/7, parents evenings to attend. 90% of the time without any acknowledgement or thanks.
Do we have unions? Yes. The support you get from them often depends on the area you're in, the school you work for, and the rep you get. Union reps have a very hard job, and can often be as bullied as teachers themselves.
Teachers are leaving the profession at a greater rate than those entering it. Even newly qualified teachers aren't lasting the distance (still):
Newly qualified teachers are leaving the profession after being left unsupported when they start work. And the problem is likely to get worse (The Guardian, June 2012)
Anyway, I digress. Even after assaults and permanent disability, I still loved teaching. That was destroyed by my last school and the level of corruptness that ripped through SMT, and even worse - the Head. They say absolute power corrupts absolutely. He was certainly the proof of that.
I live in hope that the profession will change, that students will be once again more important than statistics, and that SEN students are not seen as a meal tickets, whose funds are used elsewhere. With Gove involved however, I think the profession will be run into the ground even more than it has been already.
Education has always been a highly prized institution. Now it's scheduled to be yet another company set for privatisation..
I qualified as a teacher in 1999. Teaching was one of 2 possible careers I had considered. (The third was dragster race, but we won't go into that, because I'd neither the skill nor resources to pull that one off!). I loved teaching. Even when it was bad, I knew I was making a difference and helping others, whether it was academically or personally. I'd been assaulted, stabbed, punched, kicked. You name it. Nothing had put me off. I say nothing - there was the government.
Here's the thing. Every time Education becomes a shining light, the government/management always take credit. Every time it was seen to be failing? Clearly the teachers at fault.
I got tired of seeing management roll out flowers and do a whole school clean-up, when Ofsted where coming. I was tired of seeing the 'problem kids' shipped out for the few days they were in, so they didn't harm the schools reputation.
I guess, at the bottom of the pile, you get tired of being the whipping boy.
All my Ofsted inspections were good, and then outstanding. I enjoyed them coming in and seeing what I had done with my classes, but the situations that made me feel sick was the immense pressure that senior management put on us. There wasn't any support or encouragement, it was that unhelpful 'you will perform or you're in trouble' attitude, that you see so often from the SMT that have lost touch with reality and traded their soul for a bigger pay check and less actual work.
So, now you know what it's like in school, try hearing it in the press all the time. Headlines like 'teacher abuses student', 'education failing due to poor staff', 'teachers overpaid' etc etc. No mention of the 14hour days most staff put in. The fact we work constantly through our holidays and rarely have time to see our families.. That along with the actual teaching and resources we have to create, we've got reports to write, books to marks, assessments to carry out, parents to be on call for 24/7, parents evenings to attend. 90% of the time without any acknowledgement or thanks.
Do we have unions? Yes. The support you get from them often depends on the area you're in, the school you work for, and the rep you get. Union reps have a very hard job, and can often be as bullied as teachers themselves.
Teachers are leaving the profession at a greater rate than those entering it. Even newly qualified teachers aren't lasting the distance (still):
Newly qualified teachers are leaving the profession after being left unsupported when they start work. And the problem is likely to get worse (The Guardian, June 2012)
Sir Michael Wilshaw says many new recruits leave profession because of poor training and not enough support (The Guardian, January 2014)
Anyway, I digress. Even after assaults and permanent disability, I still loved teaching. That was destroyed by my last school and the level of corruptness that ripped through SMT, and even worse - the Head. They say absolute power corrupts absolutely. He was certainly the proof of that.
I live in hope that the profession will change, that students will be once again more important than statistics, and that SEN students are not seen as a meal tickets, whose funds are used elsewhere. With Gove involved however, I think the profession will be run into the ground even more than it has been already.
Education has always been a highly prized institution. Now it's scheduled to be yet another company set for privatisation..
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