Grumpy Computer Science Teacher

Good luck to everyone sitting their Computer Science #GCSE today, and an enormous “well done” to their hardworking teachers and support staff

5 attempts to call HMRC Admission that the system I needed wasn’t working An attempt to get me access via the phone was refused because I need to do it online Further refusal to help because the tax on my payslip is apparently different to the amount they have. UTTERLY USELESS

Getting your students ready for the OCR J836 IT R050 exam? Here’s a free pre-exam preparation lesson #ExamSuccess tes.com/teaching-resou…

With the exam season now underway, I’ve added a quiz which covers all the topics in OCR J836 R050. I hope your students find it useful for last-minute revision #gcse2026 computingrevision.net/j836-cambridge…

@DeputyGrocott Most schools I’ve worked in have enforced reading sessions in tutor time. Unsurprisingly, kids hate it. Then we wonder why they don’t read for pleasure

Reading for pleasure is probably one of the most powerful things a child can do for their future, yet many children now see reading as only a school task. How do you actively promote reading for pleasure in school?

The power of praise in a classroom cannot be underestimated. It doesn’t take much. Even at the end of a lesson simply saying ‘I thought you all did a great job today’ makes such a difference to the children.

@calucas16 I once worked at a place where all staff used iMacs. One very hungover member of staff was struggling to understand why his computer kept shutting down. It was me with the remote! Still makes me laugh

@GrumpyCompSci Or is a clever child intervening? Such fun!

Just ordered a Bluetooth presentation clicker. Seems me and the teacher next door, both using cheap 2.4GHz clickers, were advancing each others slides 🤦‍♂️

With the Computer Science #GCSE being so close, and students being stressed and irritable, today’s revision lesson will be like a “pub quiz”. Should be fun, but sadly no beer for me though

@TsuiAllen @lfc7646 The countdown is on! I also have a Business Studies group, their exam is even earlier 😱

Special #teacher5oclockclub #GetUpGetGoing greeting to @lfc7646 @GrumpyCompSci and anybody else like me on the countdown to GCSE Computer Science Paper 1 on Wednesday 13 May. Not ideal but Python example from AQA 2025 Paper 1 Question 8 for trace table solution.

@scriptwren You’re reflecting on your teaching, which is what good practitioners do all the time. Well done, keep it up 🏅

I sometimes wonder if I am a worse teacher now than I was this time last year before my training. Just seen some stuff on here about over scaffolding (almost certainly guilty) and exit tickets, which I have been told I ought to do, but apparently are rubbish?

@SamStrickers181 I had a lovely time at @BCLivingMuseum (where a lot of Peaky Blinders is filmed) in their classroom. We wrote on slate boards which are very similar to our mini-whiteboards

I’d just like to say that mini-white boards are not new & we in secondary should not act like we’ve unlocked the secrets of the edu universe here. Primary have been using them for decades. As a kid I remember using chalk boards.

@_MissieBee I know everything needs to be evidence-based, but surely every teacher already knew this?

Pls can everyone share their thoughts on this so I can solidify my own because I’m very impressionable theguardian.com/education/2026…

@FixingEducation Any name spelt incorrectly

Teachers: What name is forever off-limits for your own future kid thanks to a tough student?

@tobyadams Yeah, I understand how difficult it can be, and that we sometimes need to teach outside our specialism, but this is ridiculous. I already teach four extra subjects on top of my own

@GrumpyCompSci Timetabling is 5D chess, but you are right - this shouldn’t be the case.

I’ve been told me and the other member of my tiny team need to find an additional subject to specialise in because we’re “under allocation”. Also, several non-subject specialists teach Computer Science because of timetable clashes. Make it make sense 🙄

What is this navigation bar called, and how do I get it back when it randomly disappears? #powerpoint

@sciantificnew @ShakinthatChalk Lessons are around an hour, with transitions, social time, and lunch in between them. INSET is all day. Most lessons are also further broken-up by a range of different activities

In CPD day we don't demand that teachers use every moment of that day for 'learning'. We have coffee breaks, little chats with colleagues etc. vital for wellbeing. So why in lessons do we insist on do nows, and bell tasks and teaching to the bell. Why the relentlessness? (cont.)

Reading student coursework and thinking “how can someone do work and seemingly not care if it’s any good?” Then I got home and had to call the plumber for the third time because his shoddy work was still leaking, and asking myself the same question 😩

The annual battle of trying to get students to finish their coursework is in full swing! Collapsed timetables, interventions, support sessions… the usual aggravation. I’m almost looking forward to the “final boss”: BTEC paperwork 😱