A week in the Borders

I just can't stay away from schools.

This week, while many of my fellow NQTs are earning a crust stacking shelves in supermarkets or pulling pints in bars, I found myself visiting schools in the Borders.

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The view of Hawick High SChool from my B&B. If only my Probation school were so handy ..!

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Putting my PhD to good use, I became involved in a research project which has been running in Primary and Secondary schools across the Scottish Borders council area.

It was really interesting to meet some great youngsters with challenging needs, and chat about their learning experiences. And all without the use of a Borders-Glasgow phrase book.

Twice in one week

Once would surely have been enough.

When Stirling Council invited me to a meeting, as one of their Probationer Teachers for 2006/7, I immediately contacted the school to see if I could arrange to visit the school on the same day.

Unfortunately, the Council were expecting us on Wednesday 14 June, whereas the school's Principal Teacher (it transpired) was expecting all probationers to visit on Monday 12 June. Joined-up government? Or a plot by Shell shareholders? (See previous post.)

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The splendid King Robert Hotel, Bannockburn: scene of Stirling Council's Probationer Teachers meeting, Wednesday 14 June, 2006, 2pm.
Out of shot, to the left, is the Bannockburn Heritage Centre, commemorating the significant Scottish victory in the vicinity 692 years ago, over the forces of the English king Edward II.

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