What to Expect When You're Expecting OFSTED

My school is expecting a visit from the observation fairies any day now. By which I mean, they are due to come some time between now and the end of the year. Everyday a large percentage of my colleagues are glancing nervously at the tannoy speaker, just waiting for it to be announced. 

Now take a moment to think: does that sound like a nice working environment to you?

Here's what you can expect when you're expecting OFSTED:

-You will either mark your books every week, desperate not to be caught out, or you will be not marking your books at all, thinking you'll do it in one go the night before they come. 

-You will skip horrible chapters like perpendicular bisector constructions, to make sure you don't get caught in the middle of it. 

-You will "save" good chapters for when they come, which means you end up finishing your scheme of work two months early.

-You will go out and buy some kind of containers for mini whiteboard pens and rubbers, but keep them hidden in the cupboard so they don't get trashed before they arrive.

-You will breathe a sigh of relief every Wednesday afternoon, because you know they won't be coming until next Tuesday at the earliest.

-Everyday you will hear one person say "I don't care when they come, I'm not going to do anything differently". That person will be lying.

-You will choose what activities your students do based on the potential for display work.

-When making plans with friends, you will always add the proviso, "unless we get the call that day". 

e.g. "Will you be my maid of honour at my wedding in April?"

      "Yes, unless we get the call that day". 

But at the end of the day, we know that our school is amazing and we'll be fine. When we do get the call, we'll probably stay up all night preparing, and that will be enough. There's no point worrying about it now.

And besides, I don't care when they come, I'm not going to do anything differently. ;-)

Emma x x x