h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I work in officially the worst 6th form in my city. Whilst the numbers are somewhat off (they really aren't as low as is being reported) even the accurate number would probably still put us at the bottom.

It's probably for the best I've quit drinking.

Let's give it a positive spin: you are doing a valuable job helping studenta in the worst sixth form in your city.

I'm sorry to hear this HonestIago, as it must be really hard work, but I agree with Ed, you are doing a job that many would walk away from.

Many (mumble) years ago I worked in really dreadful inner city schools, but we had additional pay to recompense. Does this happen now? It certainly helped soften the edges of working with poverty and its consequences. It also meant that experienced staff stayed in these schools where they had good relationships with the families and kids, as they would have had to take a drop in wages to work in the leafier suburbs.

It wasn't all like that though, there were many more piles of poo to deal with than the rosy picture I tend to paint at times.

Good for you HI, unless people actually experience the state of some of these places for themselves, the majority of the public have no idea at all what it's like.

oh, and a friend of mine read your Entry about Personal Statements? He is not a member here, but he said it was the best thing he had come across so far. So, well done for that as well. I think if he had been a member he would have posted a comment.

what they said - I bet it's pretty easy teaching at places like my old school, Eton and Harrow. You are doing one of the most useful and rewarding jobs ever.

Still sucks though.... Amy the Ant used to do supply teaching in the same city as you, and I remember being horrified by her stories.

I'll make a fortune with my book about the place, that's a consolation. The worrying thing is that the current Year 13s results are on course to be even worse - they'll be close to the inaccurate figure for this year.

The current Year 12s, who we've sweated blood for, will be much, much better but that's two years away and I'll probably be long gone when the praise starts coming in.

Wellll...Real People are horrifying.

Re-reading old journals and I've just come across this: thought it'd be worth adding a post-script. This summer we got the best 6th form results the school has seen in a generation and me and my ever-wonderful colleague are being cited as the reason why (I got a very nice/expensive bottle of whisky as a thank-you from the head). We've managed to drag 6th form away from the too-small-to-survive range by increasing numbers 40% and laying the foundations for a proper offering in the humanities. We are being credited with turning the 6th form around in less than a year.

This is a slight exaggeration - there's still a long way to go before the 6th form is truly safe and secure. This year we need to prove it wasn't a fluke and that we can sustain the improvements, and we need to ensure it gets institutionalised - as it stands I think if either me or m'colleague left, it'd start to fall apart again. We're 4 weeks in to the new academic year and the job has never felt more demanding (in the best possible way) so it's far too early to gauge how this year will go. Makes me want to stick around and find out though.

Oh, and a promotion has been mooted. I'm aiming for a small promotion (that would still see my wage double) but, according to the current head of 6th form, I'm also being considered for her job when she gives it up. That would be staggering (and also quite scary).

This couldn't happen to a more deserving person HI. Truly well done. Unless you've viewed education from the inside, it's really really hard to understand the level of commitment and sheer hard work that goes to build success like this,

So, this is just fabulous news - thanks for sharing.

While you shouldn't count your chickens before they're hatched, this looks like good news. Do keep us posted.

Progress! This must be incredibly satisfying for you to watch. And well done for making a real, measurable difference.

TRiG.

The beauty of journalling. Sounds like you should be justly proud, whatever happens next.