Last week, the Secret Teacher spoke about how inspections may not necessarily reflect what happens at a school all year round.
Today they talk about how inspections can benefit teachers as well as pupils.
Having a clear outcome intended for every lesson, with the kids understanding what is required for them to be successful, just makes sense. I feel confident that I’m consistent with that.
Like every teacher, some of my lessons with the best will in the world are stinkers, and you can’t always predict when that’s going to happen.
I’m in that position now where I don’t really give anxiety any time of day, simply because I don’t have anything to hide. Having said that, I do sympathise with the newer teachers, the probationers in the school who are not going to be exempt from being watched just because they’re in their first full-time gig. I feel for them. That’s a nerve-wracking thought.
I can have a very fragile ego, so if I get constructive feedback my natural human response will be to jump on the defensive, but I’m much better at rationalising that now before it comes to the surface.
I think it’s what makes me human that if my boss or an inspector says ‘listen, I’ve got some constructive feedback for you’, there will be part of me, however hidden, that has a sinking-heart feeling.
But I’m a grown up, I can rationalise it, and I know it comes from the same place that I come from. They’re not doing this to get at me. It’s all about the kids, and giving them the best experience, and it’s not personal.
