Procrastination V Willpower

I am doomed, I have excellent procrastination skills and a complete lack of willpower. 

I seem to have lost my motivation for anything at the moment.  The run up to Christmas was its usual nightmare and then when we got back to work I was notified of a Health and Safety audit.  That was enough to send me into a panic and the last two weeks have been very busy and eventful to say the least.

The week before last we had our long awaited Ofsted inspection visit.  We’ve been expecting this since last September and you only get ½ a days’ notice so it’s good that it is finally done and not hanging over our heads.  The phone call came on Tuesday so the inspectors were here on the Wednesday and Thursday.  Obviously it’s more daunting for teaching staff who are actually observed but part of my role is to keep a central register of all the checks we do on staff including police checks, qualifications etc.  A mistake on that can lead to instant failure so no pressure!  It was an exhausting few days – early starts, late finishes and of course it’s hard to be relaxed when there are 3 inspectors in the building.  But it went well.  Can’t say anymore at the moment as the report has not been published.  Due out any time now so watch this space on news of that.

The health and safety audit had been postponed to the week just finished (on the Wednesday) but we had more drama on the Monday.  An electrical fault that set off the fire alarm led to the closure of the school for two days while it was resolved.  Our supply had to be turned off at the main intake while the work was carried out.  (This meant no lights, power, heating, phones etc so no school!) Once the supply was restored everything had to be checked to make sure all was safe.  You would be forgiven for thinking that I had two extra days at home but that was not the case for me.  I was busy liaising with maintenance people and organising the messaging to parents and staff to keep them informed of the situation.  I have been promised time off in lieu once things are back to normal.  Normal?  Hmmm didn’t really think I was going to get those days!

But it has meant a bit more breathing time on the  H & S audit – we’re on half term this week and the appointment will be rearranged for after that.  Not sure what he will have to say about this incident – especially as after the Headteacher had reported it to the local authority we received a response to “the fire” we’d had.  As in did we have the fire brigade attend?  Did anyone have to use a fire extinguisher?

Umm no and no!  It was not a fire.  Of course the potential for a fire was there but fortunately our fire alarm system picked up that the wiring had got hot before we could even smell any burning and we’d evacuated the building.  We’d had an electrician on site fairly quickly to establish what was wrong and moved on from there.

Hopefully things will get a bit easier once the H &S audit is over – at least there won’t be so much pressure.  There will still be lots of work to do – and it looks like part of the building will have to be rewired which will be a major project but I have been getting more support from the Deputy Headteacher and I can honestly say there is never a dull moment in school.

Plus there are more scary things to worry about.  It was reported in the news yesterday that the horsemeat scandal may have spread to school meals!  Especially cottage pie.  I’ve eaten cottage pie at school recently!  I ate minced beef pie on Friday!  Tasted like beef.  But then I wouldn’t know what horse tasted like.  Our meals are mostly freshly cooked at school but couldn’t say where the beef comes from.  Hopefully during the half-term holiday the local authority will have prepared a response on this subject as I know we will be getting questions from parents.

Maybe there’s a silver lining though.  I need to diet and eating school meals is not helping – remember my title of willpower and lack of it.  And procrastinaton.  When faced with the choice of giving up relaxing time to make a healthy packed lunch or even getting off my backside and going to the local shops to get something to eat versus the prospect of a hot dinner with a dessert such as chocolate sponge and custard, apple crumble and custard or even cheesecake there are no prizes for guessing which option I’ve been opting for lately.