Teacher Spotlight: Adjusting to a new school in Lockdown

This week on our teacher spotlight we are hearing from Sophie Craig, Year 1 Teacher (@teachingdiaries_) about how she adapted to a change of schools during the lockdown.

‘Lockdown 3.0. Well, you certainly took us by surprise, but one thing I know to be true about teachers is that we are resilient, resourceful and we will do everything we can to make sure we do the best for our children!

I am in my third year of teaching, so I have done online learning before, but this time is much different. For some reason, the workload and pressure seem far heavier than before and overall I just think we are all struggling in this third lockdown – in terms of our work lives and personal lives.

After being in my first school for two years and experiencing the first lockdown whilst working there, I started at a new school in September. Applying for a job during a global pandemic is something that I never want to experience again. The lack of job vacancies and having virtual ‘look around’ sessions are just some of the things that contributed to this being one of the most stressful times for me as a teacher.

Trying to convince someone that you’re good at your job, without them being able to watch you teach, is just the next level! I still don’t know how I managed it! Nevertheless, I did, which meant leaving my first school, my colleagues and the children without properly being able to say goodbye. It was heartbreaking that I couldn’t see the children and couldn’t explain why I wouldn’t see them again in September, especially because I had such a young class, but I knew this was the right choice for me.

September came along and I was excited and nervous, in equal measures, to start at my new school. Meeting your class and colleagues, learning how things are done at your new school and making friends are just some of the standard worries you have when starting at a new school, but on top of this I had to consider all the new protocols and rules surrounding Covid. It was daunting, but I knew I’d get there!

I finished my first term successfully, so happy at my new school and with my gorgeous little year one class, and being so lucky not to have had my bubble ‘pop’. Then Mr Prime Minister makes the announcement (after us already being back in school for an INSET day, cheers for that) that we were going to close.. AGAIN!

So now it was time to learn how my new school did things in terms of online learning and what the expectations were. I think every teacher everywhere will agree that this time, online learning took a step up! It has been intense, stressful and such hard work, but we do it because we love our job and we strive to provide the best for the children in our classes.

As I write this post, half term is coming to a close and Mr Prime Minister is due to make another announcement. I am positive that no matter what he says about schools and education, we as teachers and school staff will be prepared and ready to face whatever is thrown in our way, and we will do it to the highest standards and, as always, with the children at the heart of everything we do’.

If you have anything you’d like to share on our teacher spotlight series, then get in touch with us!