Just starting out in school can be pretty daunting, especially when an Ofsted visit looms in week four!

Ofsted went well - not officially ratified but we were told to have a 'good' evening and there is a 'good' celebration party planned! This is a great improvement from a previous satisfactory rating and special measures before that!

It was an interesting experience - the Ofsted call came at lunchtime on the day before the two day visit. At that point, a variety of responses across school arose...some panic and lots of urgent photocopying(!) whilst others were calm and reassuring. Our school professional mentor was extremely supportive to us as Teach First and told us to try and relax if observed - after all, we were only four weeks into a new career.

The two days flew by - observed colleagues were left happy or not - according to their individual 'rating'. I personally was observed for 15 minutes by an Ofsted and Head combination - they had come to find me and found a notice on my lab door saying 'out on a weathering survey - back 2.35pm'! The Deputy Head came to find me to tell me that they were looking for me so I was able to group the class together and ask them to be their usual lovely selves (!) before we walked back into the building!!!

My Year 8 class didn't let themselves or me down so I was very proud. With a 15 minute observation, I wasn't 'entitled' to any individual Ofsted feedback but I have since taken the opportunity to catch up with Jo (Head) and ask her for some headline, immediate impact feedback. I was very happy with what she had to say - SI had done a great preparation job!!

Anyway.... everyone is back in school this week and actually quite tired after all the excitement. However, with parents evening on Thursday and all the usual lesson planning etc. not to mention observations for us in science today, there is no rest for the wicked.

School life is fab and never a dull moment - I love it! Just gutted we now have to wait another three years for the next Ofsted!

Katie is a 2012 Participant at a Teach First partner school in the East Midlands. 

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