greent's mfw journey

Tahlullah

And what an awful education system we now have. Where there is a clear split between the haves and the have nots, and it isn't even a choice thing any more. A parent has to be in it to do the best for their child. Whereas the have nots make do with a lower quality education. Awful, awful. You do the best for your family and you should be pleased that you can and do. This is the world the children will grow up into.

Brodiebobs

It’s such a difficult decision-ours have both had tutoring from year 5 but for addition support that school can’t provide for their needs, rather than grammar prep.

In our local area from when I left 20 years ago two high schools have closed and the comps left have almost either doubled or tripled in size, luckily they’re quite good but all encounter issues with bullying and behaviour I think because there’s just so many children! Competition for the Grammars is huge, I think last year there were over 1500 took the test for less than 300 places, and a lot of the privately educated juniors take those places.

We can only do our best for ours can’t we!

brizzlegirl

Hi great

Hope the revisers are doing OK and the house is calm. All going OK for DD2. Certainly her attitude is good and she is aiming to do herself justice which is the main thing. She's looking tired though so think we will have another two sleepovers max over the next week :eek:

Enjoyed the weather yesterday, had nice time in the garden relaxing (rather than doing work in it!) but today its dull and raining.

Have a good week

Brizzle xx

greent

We have about 2500+ students take the 11+ entrance test for Glos grammars - we do have 7 grammars in the county, though.

DS3 is getting on fine so far - although we have some catching up to do - esp on comprehension - he's really not a fan of reading, sadly I'm now wishing I'd started him there back at Xmas.....

So DD is back now until Sept (she'll be going back to her flat in June to clean it ready to hand keys back), DS1 is in the middle of his Y1 uni exams and DS2 is (sort-of) revising for Y8 end of year exams. A quiet half term here as a result! DD and I have been deep cleaning/ sorting/ tidying the kitchen and a surprising amount of stuff has gone to CS, some recycled and 2 things she has nabbed for her uni kitchen I have 2 large empty Amaz0n boxes which I'm aiming to fill before delivering them to CS.

DD's also been sorting out things in her room - about a carrier bag full has gone to shoebox appeal and a smaller pile to CS boxes :T

OH has today been offered a 3 month extension at his current contract - and has been told he can up his daily rate :T He's also going to ask about a definite day a week at home - that will massively improve things - he is so tired on a Fri night at the mo, so half of Sat is then written off as he sleeps in.

Exam season well and truly underway - I've been doing some of them at a student's house - which is.... different, to say the least. However, it will mean a small boost at the end, as I'm getting mileage and also travel time is paid. Am still looking forward to the end of exams, though!

Attended a family wedding at the weekend - have another one in mid June - always love big family parties - they should happen more often!

debtfreeoneday

Sounds like a productive half term!

Karmacat

Things are sounding good, greent - especially OH's extension and changed hours. Invigilating at a student's house *does* sound different but access means stuff like that may need to happen, absolutely

greent

Yes, Kc - contract extensions are always good! I'd rather a day wfh than an increase in money, tbh, so he's going in with 2 options - a high price with 5 days in the office and a lower (but still increased) price with a day wfh (He does manage to occasionally wfh - eg: DS3's bday, but having an 'official' one makes it easier)

Access arrangements for students mean all sorts of things are accommodated - I have no problem with the principle of invigilating a student in their home - I just personally wouldn't want to be the one doing the invigilation again!! It makes for a longer day, being in someone's home feels intrusive (and the logistics of loo breaks for either of us are more complicated! ), there is (for this candidate) no definite end time (obv there is a maximum time they can *do* the exam itself - but there are breaks involved for this candidate, expending the length of time there) so it can be quite a long time there (stomach rumbling...…) - and I miss working with/ seeing other members of the team - I'm in and left before most of them are in on a morning and then I return at odd times of the day when - if anyone is in - people are invigilating other exams. I'll happily work 1-on-1 in school for whatever reason (eg: scribing and/ or reading for a candidate) but it's lonely (and - frankly - boring) doing it in a different environment! However, it is really good that such arrangements are possible - which is definitely a Good Thing!

Today's plans have changed - nothing exciting, though - I need to get the VAT return done. We've changed accounting software, so I want to run it through both (old and new) to check they match - double the work, yes - but it's a belt and braces approach that I've got the new system sussed (I've been teaching myself as I go along ) I also want to get the smaller 2 to the barbers (both are very fluffy looking) and then DS3 has 11+ session this evening. I suppose I should get off here and get my files out...… sigh...…
x

brizzlegirl

Glad alls good and that there is a contract extension in the offing with the joy of a day WfH. Not commuting makes such a difference to mood and energy levels I think. certainly I am really benefiting from it at the moment. Almost feel human again after 6 months of 2/3 days of travel rather than 5!

Yes think we'll all be glad when exam season is over :rotfl:

Have a good Sunday

x

chumpy45

I have had my first taste of invigilating GCSE this year. I was a reader/scribe and for one group lead invigilator which was scary! I found the reader/scribe duties really long and boring as in all cases the student didn't take advantage of my services and they had 50% extra time. The paint on the wall was really not that interesting !!

greent

Haha, chumpy! - yes, one-on-one work can be boring - I learned a famous poem 2 summers ago, as a copy was on the wall of the room I did a lot of one-on-one invigilation in - I then had to recite it at our end of exams lunch as entertainment! As above, I spent a lot of this year's GCSEs (well, nearly all the core subject papers) at a student's house - looking at their dining room door - staring at them otherwise for 3 hours at a time was harsh on both of us!! (I found out last night that there are probably 2 more candidates in the same situation for next Summer - I don't want to do it again!!!)

I quite like scribing/ reading& scribing - but not if they don't use me! 50% seems excessive if they don't use you, as part of that time surely is for the dictation element...?

I have 2 more mornings at work next week and then that's it until Sept (which will only be a Sat morning invigilating the 11+ entrance test and possibly a weekday morning doing Y7 CATs) I'm looking forward to not having any - although the money is, of course, handy - it all goes to the Florida Fund

On the subject of money, as it's almost the month end, here's some figures:
Florida Fund now at £8735 (I'd like to book it in July, I think - just need to talk to besties) - £990 added in June
BTL mtge reduced by just over £450
Usual monthly savings to S&S ISA and monthly saver account (which may get used towards Florida at maturation)
EF/ floating savings figure reduced due to something I can't remember (poss OH's car?)!. Will reduce again further in July (although it does get a large top up each month) - OH's car (again), some garden spends (eg: 2 tonne of top soil), annual school bus pass for DS3 (£1200 pa) and a bill from SFE for an op to DD (although I'm challenging this as they've used an exceptionally high income year to base 2 years of her student loan on instead of 1 year) I *am* due a tax refund of almost £350, though :T (and OH had a bill of £44 to pay- so let's call it £300 net towards Florida )

We're collecting DD from her uni flat today -so have to clear out the last of her stuff and make sure it's clean ready to be inspected @ 3pm..... that will likely cost us a (cheap - Tesco is nearby, as is Greggs) lunch for all of us (well, myself, OH, DD and maybe her boyf) Then tonight the pan is that OH and I go and see Yesterday and maybe grab some food just for us

Tomorrow - may see bestie and her husband - have his bday present sat here and they have a new kitchen we need to check out - although we're also planning a family brunch and bbq, so it depends very much on timings. DS3 is also not quite right - was off school yesterday after falling asleep on the sofa early evening on Thurs and then waking later with a temp of 101.7 and being slightly sick - appears to possibly be throat related as he says it hurts to swallow, but I can't feel his glands up. His temp is back to normal today and you can see he feels much better - although still says it hurts a bit to swallow. He's not complaining, though, so I'm not planning on anything other than calp0l and ice pops unless it develops!

My sister had a massively crazy thing happen 2 weeks tomorrow - thankfully someone happened to be with her at her home at the time or she would likely not have survived. Thanks to the swift actions they took and the fast response of the paramedics and then the local hospital and then the nearest brain injury specialist hospital she looks like she'll be ok - a long recovery ahead of her and I don't think she'll be starting her new job in Sept but she's here. May need an op over the Summer (with possible partial head shaving and then a scar), but that's a small price to pay!

Will aim to do a half year round up in a few days

xx