The One to One English tuition was a fantastic experience, not least because I was able to really understand what makes my tutees tick and hook that into the work they were studying – even though I feel I didn’t really have enough time with them. More and more I see evidence that each pupil who lacks the expected attainment in a particular area is actually lacking confidence to experiment, get things wrong, learn and try again. The fear of failure hems these young people in and I question whether the focus should be on attainment or on cultivating enjoyment and understanding of the work being studied. This, I believe, would increase confidence and retention of information, reduce the fear created if an exam is not passed, and raise the level of attainment by default. Now if only I could put this to the test in the wider sphere of education … we’ll see.

Michael is at the end of marking GCSE Music compositions, so the office is filled with all manner of sounds in various forms. Website design work is being requested by the bucket-full and is being juggled with various networking events across the UK, and the Redditch Palace Youth Theatre production of “Bugsy Malone”. Meanwhile  for me, more Drama consultancy work is in the pipeline, from one-off training sessions to more long term projects. We’re also in the process of having quotes done for a new office space which we hope to be completed before the end of the year and will hopefully mean we can bring people on board to work with us on growing Artsphere as a free and essential resource for all involved with the creative arts. All very exciting.

So if the England football team don’t go all the way, and the emergency budget stings horribly, we shall keep climbing the hill bit by bit, aiming to make a difference to people working creatively across the UK.

Grand!

Have second meeting with Selly Oak Cluster Coordinator tomorrow so we’ll see what that turns up as I haven’t heard if we’ve got approval from the Head Teacher.

Schools work has been very quiet of late but I got a call today to say that a member of staff has had a rather horrible accident and could be out of action for up to six weeks, so I may be asked to go in more often. If not I’ll see if I can’t coax some flowers from the garden then call in and see her at home, make her cups of tea and generally try to make her feel less annoyed.

Went into St Pauls Girls this week – what a joy and oh how I’ve missed it. Will be helping with Unit 2 of their GCSE drama coursework during Easter and also hoping to catch a theatre company who work with them on SRE.

Also interested to hear more and more that primary school teachers would like guidance on how to teach the drama strand of the Literacy Strategy. Now that’s something I know how to do.

Finally Artsphere are offering free website design on a first come first served basis – click here to find out more.

Take care and have fun people!

Another meeting on Friday with Learning Mentor and Librarian to discuss strategies and training to improve social and emotional literacy.

And then on Saturday Little C is one. How time flies.

Have left my website for the last week and intend to come back to it this week with ‘fresh eyes’. I’m going to consolidate what I’m offering based on the connections I’ve been making. That’s where my focus will be for the next six months or so, depending on what comes up.

Drama NQT consultancy begins on Friday with a look at the Edexcel Paper 1 work. Really looking forward to it. One of the students asked for help today and I was able to back up her teacher by saying that we’ll be going through the coursework this week.

Finally sorted out my Linkedin profile (link on my homepage at www.jaxlovelock.com) and asked for a few endorsements. Need to follow those up.

Also planning Little C’s first birthday. Strange how fast the time goes. A friend of mine, due to have her baby in the summer, said she thinks it could be the making of her. Looking back over the last year I believe C has been the making of me.

Off to write up meeting notes and begin weaving the threads …

I now need to go through my meeting notes and decipher them. There are various funding options I need to look at. Have also lined up another meeting with LB at DECTC to establish exactly what they want to tackle. Then need to look at workshop content based on achieving particular outcomes .

Preparation for NQT consultancy is almost complete with rooms booked and training programme in place.

Was really pleased and very nostalgic this evening as I found a fan page for Dewsbury Arts Group, the Youth Theatre at which I learnt my first lessons in devising drama. If you or your children live anywhere near and are interested in drama and a safe place to build self-esteem and confidence, you need to get down to Lower Peel Street.

The Monday meeting with Pepita Hanna went really well – a wealth of information, advice and support. I’ve already acted on some of her advice and taken advantage of the opportunity to meet with the co-ordinator for the Selly Oak Extended Schools Cluster via LB at DECTC. Have just finished preparing for that.

The consultancy prep is also going well. Have worked on the training schedule this evening and will hand in tomorrow when I go in for the workshops meeting.

And finally, I had the great pleasure of talking with two Year 11 Drama pupils this afternoon. Initially checking their progress with their drama coursework and then the most wonderful discussion on their performance exam, their plans for the future, politics and how vulnerable they feel, but hopeful at the same time.

On this occasion I feel I am justified in saying, “I love what I do.”

Have spent all afternoon on consultancy prep – just hope my trainee doesn’t freak out at all the things he needs to do / get his students to do for their exam. It’s not as scary as it seems, you just need to be organised and he’ll have all the tools to be just that when I’ve finished with him Then it’s his choice as to how he uses them.

Need to sort out my meeting tomorrow. Obviously I did most of the planning last week when I got the date wrong, so it’s just a case of pulling that up, finalising it and getting it in the bag.

Tonight I’m being Mum and making up some meals for the little one – very handy when I’m so busy. In fact I appreciate the time I do have with her even more now.

Michael is as busy as ever and is exhausted. He’s working hard on organising the content for Artsphere Creative Arts Network, Arts Hosting and Host Your Church, as well as updating several websites for our portfolio. Will try let him sleep-in this week as he’s been averaging 5 hours sleep a night and working solidly for the other 19 hours. Can’t have him burn out on me can I.

Will update on the week whenever I get a moment.

It reminds me of how scary the whole thing was back when I started out. I was straight out of Uni thinking, “How hard can it be?” Then found out just how very hard it was. I had a lot of people willing to support me but a couple seemed to forget that I was learning how to plan, teach, assess, discipline, climb the paperwork mountain, get my head around the school system, etc, all at once. But I had to do it. Simple as.

Unless a school is able to support a large creative department or you share post 16 courses with other schools, you often find Drama teachers working pretty much in isolation. There are the odd moderation and training courses to get your heads together, but work load often prevents much more than that. It doesn’t have to be a ‘bad’ thing, it’s just part of the job. The point lies in whether or not you decide to rise to the challenge, to make those connections, to get the training, to take every opportunity to improve your working practice.

So as a consultant I will be supportive but I won’t pull any punches. We’re dealing with young people who trust us to guide them through their exam. Fortunately I’m training someone who’s capable of doing just that … with a little guidance of course

Spent most of yesterday evening working on my website. Still a way to go but the bare bones are there. Just need to find the time. M has worked out a 63 hour per week timetable of work for himself to get everything done and I’m taking two hours of it whilst he looks after the little one. This is part of the sacrifice of running your own business and having a bairn to look after. Don’t be fooled. It’s hard graft all the way but the rewards, when they come, are worth it.

Have managed to get my head around SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning) and SRE (Sex and Relationship Education Guidance) in relation to my schools workshop planning. Have also had a very positive meeting with a Learning Mentor at one of the schools I work in. She’s up for getting our heads together and also introducing me to a few other people who may be able to provide funding.

The last in our series of Crossway workshops at a local youth group went really well last week. 100% positive feedback and a request for more. A fantastic confirmation that we’re on the right lines. The one thing that always niggles at me is funding – will we get it / do people care enough to provide it / will we fit into the right boxes / will we have to match fund?

Need to get ready for dinner and then the counseling course. M has just breathed a sigh of relief as he’s realised I don’t need to leave in 30mins for the youth group so I can help with the little one. Only fair as he’s working doubly hard being Daddy Daycare and Artsphere MD late into the night. We’re both swimming hard against the tide and only just keeping our heads above water. But it’s worth it.