Back to School Diary of a Deputy Head in Spain

The following diary entry comes from Annelouise Jordan MCCT in Spain, as part of our ‘Back to School Diary’ series.

The Countdown Begins

It is the 24th of August 2021 and there are 6 days until I walk into the school building and see my staff for the first time since 28th of June 2021. The nerves set in and the heart starts racing as I begin to think about the million and one things I set out to do over the summer and never did. How can I cram the INSET prep or read just a few more chapters of a recent edu-book to show that I am the most up-to-date? How will instil confidence in my staff as we take on a new year?

Let’s just stop and reframe that last part. Yes the nerves set in but it’s more than cramming in bits of knowledge and showing my new found learning. What this will actually do is the complete opposite of what I think. In fact, what I should show my colleagues is that yes, I’m nervous and no, I did not do any work or reading over the holidays. Starting a new year together is the best part of the first week back. We can talk about new ideas and examples of themes and topics that we saw over social media but it’s when we start relaxing back into it, is when the ideas just start flowing.

I won’t be starting back on Monday with my list of new found knowledge and trying to get everyone to follow me and jump on board with it. I’ll take deep breaths, acknowledge the nerves and get excited to see what the new term brings.

The Countdown Begins

Today is the 25th of August and now that the initial anxiety of what I have not done has settled down (note that it has not passed and that’s OK!). I can start to sort out what needs to be done before the staff come back in just 5 days time. I’m reminding myself that the children don’t actually walk through the doors until another whole week of preparation and that keeps me calm and collected.

So what do I need to do for the start of the new term?

• Buy my new school outfits along with shoes too of course!
• Look at the INSET plan and pick out the points I need to lead (start planning)
• Get in touch with my head teacher and organise a coffee to check in.
• Buy (or create online) my new academic year teacher planner

Make a short list of the things you need to do and be kind to yourself. This part is all about focusing on the things that will prepare you for those first few days before the children arrive.

So what do I need to do for the start of the new term?

• Buy my new school outfits along with shoes too of course!
• Look at the INSET plan and pick out the points I need to lead (start planning)
• Get in touch with my head teacher and organise a coffee to check in.
• Buy (or create online) my new academic year teacher planner

Make a short list of the things you need to do and be kind to yourself. This part is all about focusing on the things that will prepare you for those first few days before the children arrive.

Take a deep breath, close your eyes and take yourself back to all the other first weeks back you’ve had. What went well back then and what would you change? IF you really need to get all those policies written and you absolutely need to finish that chapter of the edubook then go ahead, find the time and the headspace to do it but 9 times out of 10, you don’t.

My staff and colleagues need me to be ready for whatever the first week back will throw at us. When I look back on last year I see myself focused, ready and up-to-date with lots of new exciting ideas and new ways to learn “post-COVID”. What did I learn? There was and is no “post-COVD”. We are living with COVID now and that means uncertainty in how we can learn, teach and even lead.

So, take that breath again and remind yourself of what, and who, it’s all for!

Heading Into the Last Weekend

As I head into the last weekend of the school holidays with all the breathing and prepping done I can start to enjoy carrying out the actions on my list. Having brunch with my headteacher will settle the nerves even more and ensure that we continue to have our vision for the school aligned. I’m looking forward to leaving my son with his dad and getting some time to have a look around the shops for my new term outfit (we all need a new uniform right?).

As I sit reflecting on my tasks, my mind wanders to the children who will be walking through the doors on the 6th of September. As a mum, I can sense the nerves building up in my own son as he has more tantrums than normal, he is sleeping less and this, I believe, is linked to us talking more about going back to school and seeing his friends again. How many more of the children are feeling this way? A few or most? This is when I think about what they are anxious about, what is going through their minds about staring back? As an adult, it took quite a bit of time out on my own and a lot of meditation to bring me back to myself but can a 5-year-old do this and will their parents even notice this is what’s going on?

Bring Yourself Back

My final thought for starting the new term is that it’s not about me, it’s not about what I have or have not done. What matters most is that I am there on that first day with a smile on my face, ready to take the children off their parent’s or guardian’s hands and bring them on their new journey of learning. As a member of SLT, I need to make sure I am present for my colleagues who have also spent some time with families after not seeing them for over 18 months, myself included, and that it might be just that bit more difficult for them too. My Why is all about the reason I turn up each day and it’s not about me. Think about why you turn up each day and that is what will ensure you are ready to start back.

I promise to bring myself back, to be present and to smile. I’ll also be taking in some deep breaths too!