Thought I should let you read the next bit - sorry had forgotten to post it! This one is a bit long.
October – to the holidays.
It was raining, the late Indian summer had gone and the weather had suddenly turned colder. The two Canadian Maple trees, that stood either side of the main entrance gate, looked beautiful last week; their deep red leaves had been a lovely splash of colour on the trees and along the ground as they began to fall. The children had enjoyed crunching their way through the piles of dried leaves on the paths, now they lay in sodden heaps awaiting Jack Warren and his broom.
“Brr, it’s horrible out there,” Janice announced as she came into her office. She shook the rain from her hair,
“I know,” Helen agreed, “what a change from the last few weeks. October has certainly arrived with a vengeance.” Helen was sitting at Janice’s desk, working on her computer. Unable to see what Helen was doing and not able to use her working space at that moment, Janice turned to leave the office,
“Is the coffee machine on?” she asked, “I’ll bring us some through when I’ve hung up my coat.”
“Yes, it is,” Helen replied, “but not for me thanks, I’ve had one. I had to come in early to start the budget thingy for County. I don’t know how they expect it all to get done in so short a time.” She frowned at the computer screen as she spoke; Janice gave an exasperated sigh,
“I told you Sian and I had that in hand. You needn’t have come in early. What time did you get here?” Helen shrugged and waved a hand,
“Oh, only about an hour ago,” that meant at least two hours Janice thought, “sorry, I didn’t realise you had Sian working on this. I hope I haven’t messed anything up for you.”
Janice left and went to hang up her damp coat. She was annoyed with her boss; she had left her feeling as if she hadn’t been doing her job properly, or fast enough. ‘What a way to start the week’ she thought to herself, ‘never mind I won’t let it get to me!’ She went into the staff room to make herself some coffee and take five minutes to calm down. It wasn’t often that she and Helen fell out, but it was usually when Helen ‘interfered’ with Janice’s job, deciding to help out when Janice had everything already under control, or just sticking an oar in when it wasn’t required. ‘I notice she wasn’t on hand when I had to do all that photocopying last week’ she muttered to herself,
“Hello, Janice!” Kate Appleby breezed into the staff room, “talking to yourself already?” she joked.
“Oh, hello Kate,” Janice replied wearily, “sorry, it’s one of those Monday’s already. The weather has gone rotten and Helen is in one of those moods where she thinks she’s being helpful but she leaves me feeling useless.” Kate made a face, her eyes showing sympathy with the other woman,
“I’m sure she doesn’t mean to, it’s probably her way of keeping busy. I expect she’s getting nervous with that inspector chappy coming this week. You know what she’s like ‘Don’t panic anyone’ when what she means is she’ll do it for us!” Janice laughed, only Kate could lighten things up like that, a perfect impression of Helen at her best, or did she mean worst? “What’s she up to anyway?”
“My figures for County. I have to get them in on Wednesday, there’s a special thing we all have to do and it must be in on that day, no sooner and no later. Sian is due in today and we had both worked out our programme to enable me to do everything and be finished by tomorrow night. Now I don’t know where Helen will have got to, what she will have done, or even how Sian and I are going to work. I know she only meant to help, but Helen and figures usually means trouble, she’s very good with most things but get her near my budgets and accounts and she loses the plot!” Janice groaned and turned to go through the door, “I suppose I had better get back to the office, chances are I can get her off my computer before she crashes it!” Kate laughed and Janice left with a shrug, but a slight grin on her face now.
Helen left the office and the computer shortly before 8.30 when the first parents and children appeared at the office window with the usual requests for book bags, P.E. shirts etc. Sian was due in at 9 o’clock and Janice was hoping to see just what Helen had been up to before then. The phone rang and three mums were queuing to see her, it was obviously going to be one of those mornings, where was Helen now that she could do with an extra pair of hands?
“I won’t be a moment, Mrs. Francis,” she called through to the first parent as she answered the phone. It was a call reporting a sick child, she made a note and turned back to her queue, the phone rang again. She glared at it, “I’m sorry, was it a book bag you said? What colour?” Mrs. Francis asked her daughter which colour was her favourite this week and after great deliberation, with the phone insistently ringing, they decided on blue. Janice rummaged in her cupboard as she answered the phone again, “Mrs. North, yes, who’s calling? I’ll just see if she’s in her office,” she tucked the phone under her chin and hit the ‘hold’ button, “there you are Mrs. Francis, is that the one Jenny?” she asked, Jenny nodded and Mrs. Francis handed over the 80pence. Switching back to the phone again Janice buzzed for Helen, no reply. “Hello, Mr. Berkshire? I’m afraid Mrs. North isn’t in her office at present can I get her to call you? Oh damn!” The phone slipped from under her chin, “oops, sorry I nearly lost you.” She wrote down the number the man gave her, “Does she know what it’s concerning? Ah, you’re from OFSTED, lovely, I’ll tell her to call you as soon as I can. Thank you.” She put the phone down, closed her eyes and groaned inwardly ‘Tell me I didn’t curse at an OFSTED inspector’ she murmured miserably. The next parent was waiting impatiently so she turned her attention to the immediate problems, Mr. Berkshire she would have to worry about later.
***
“So, first you curse at the gentleman and then you drop him,” Helen laughed at Janice’s worried face, “don’t worry, I’m sure you haven’t got us marked down yet!”
“I’m really sorry, Helen,” Janice said, “you know how it is some mornings and the phone just slipped, I didn’t know who he was. Not that that would make any difference, I don’t make a habit of cursing at all our callers,” she added hurriedly, “well, not until I’ve put the phone down any way.” She managed a smile and handed the post-it note to Helen, “There’s his number, and he said he’ll be in until 11 o’clock.” Helen took the note and went through to her office to make the call.
Half an hour later Janice was engrossed in the budget work on the computer and Sian had come in and was busy checking the registers when Helen returned.
“Excuse me, Janice,” she said, Janice looked round distractedly, “Nick Berkshire - there’s been a change of plan and he’ll be coming tomorrow. I couldn’t see anything in the diary so I’ve booked him in, it does mean I’ll be unavailable for most of the day. Will that be alright with you?” Janice frowned slightly, then, realising what Helen was talking about she replied,
“Of course. Do you know what he might want to see, any paperwork I need to have ready or anything?” Just what she needed today, she thought to herself, as if I haven’t enough to do. Helen had, in fact, been quite helpful with the work on the computer, it was just that Janice had to find where she had got to and take over from there, adjusting a few details as she went.
“No, I don’t think so, it’s just a preliminary chat, setting out the order of things so to speak. If you could advise the kitchen that we will need a couple of lunches though, that would be great. Oh, and we’ll have to see if we can change the staff meeting, any chance of whizzing a memo out this morning?” Helen breezed out, her mind already racing through the things she wanted to have ready.
“Don’t worry,” Sian told Janice, “I’ll speak to the kitchen staff and arrange lunch, and then I’ll bash out a quick memo and get the year six monitors to take them around at break.” Janice beamed a smile of gratitude at her,
“Thanks Sian, I don’t know how I cope without you sometimes. Helen doesn’t seem to realise that I don’t have two pairs of hands, or a brain that skips from one thing to another like hers!” She returned to her figures and Sian went off to inform the kitchen supervisor of the visit tomorrow. Janice moaned about Helen about as much as she praised her, the two of them worked well together, it was just the occasional hiccup that got them grating against each other.
***
Tuesday morning and Janice was weighed down with a selection of biscuits and goodies. She made her way through to the staff room and unloaded her bags onto the central table, keeping the special biscuits to one side to serve with coffee mid-morning for Helen and her visitor. The doughnuts had been on special offer in the supermarket that morning so would be a little treat for the rest of the staff at break time.
“Ooh! Yummy, someone’s birthday?” Joe Hemsley said cheerfully, as he came into the room, he put an arm around Janice and plonked a kiss on her cheek, “Happy Birthday, I wish you’d said, I’d have brought a card.” Janice blushed scarlet,
“No, silly, it’s not my birthday for months. I was shopping this morning and saw these on special offer, I thought it would cheer us up in this weather.” Joe grinned mischievously,
“Oh, well, you deserve a kiss for the thought,” he said, making himself a coffee and, as he turned to go out again added, “you will remember to let me know when your birthday is won’t you?” with a wink he whisked out of the door and left Janice with her face still burning and her stomach turning somersaults. ‘Cheeky thing,’ she whispered to herself, ‘but I wouldn’t mind if you forgot the card again!’ she giggled and went about getting herself and Helen a coffee to start the day with, before returning to her office with a much more cheerful air than she came in with.
Helen was in her office, sorting through everything she thought might be needed for this first visit from Nick Berkshire. She cleared a space on her desk as Janice brought in her coffee,
“Thanks Janice, I’m sorry if this is going to muck up your day. I’ll try not to disturb you unless I really have to.” Janice smiled at her, after yesterday’s disagreeing start the two women were, as usual, working well together,
“Don’t worry,” she said, “Sian has come in for an extra day anyway so we should be able to keep things running whilst you’re tied up and if you need anything one of us should be free to sort it out. What time did you say he was coming? I’ll make sure there’s some fresh coffee brewing and I found some nice biscuits to sweeten him up.” Helen looked at her over her mug and frowned,
“Mr. Berkshire said he’d be here at 10.30. You’re very cheerful today, something happened? It’s not your birthday is it? I don’t usually miss it,” she turned to look in her diary, when she looked back Janice was blushing again,
“No, it’s not my birthday,” she said sharply, “I can be cheerful if I like!” Embarrassed she marched back to her office, leaving a bemused Helen staring at the doorway.
***
At 10.30 on the dot Nick Berkshire pulled into the car park in his dark blue BMW. He reversed into the last remaining space and looked around him at Tanglewood School. It was an attractive building, even in the grey October weather, the last of the leaves had been torn from the trees, but the grounds were neat and tidy and the place had a welcoming feel to it. Opening his car door he swung his legs out and allowed himself a moment to stretch and release the tension of an hour on the motorway, he ran a hand through his short blond curls, picked up his brief case from the back seat and turned towards the main entrance, clicking the automatic lock as he went.
“Helen, I think Nick Berkshire has arrived,” Janice buzzed through to her office as she saw the car pull in. Helen came into the main office and looked out of the window,
“Mmm, he looks better than I thought. I imagined some crusty, standoffish type, although he seemed very nice on the phone, quite approachable.” She went through to open the door and welcome him,
“Good morning, Mrs. North?” Nick held out a hand and they shook briefly, aware that they were both sizing each other up and hoping that they would get along.
“Good morning, Mr. Berkshire, please call me Helen. Welcome to Tanglewood.” Helen took him into the main reception area, “Would you like a look around first, or straight to business?” Nick smiled warmly at her, aware of the nerves all head teachers experienced on his arrival,
“A brief tour would be lovely, may I put my case somewhere before we begin? And do call me Nick.” Helen took him through to her office, introducing Janice and Sian as they went back through towards the infant area of the school.
“So, you have been here since the school opened,” Nick enquired, as they walked across the courtyard, the bell had just been rung for the end of break and children were beginning to line up by the several doors leading back into the classrooms, a few greeting Helen as they passed, most ducking out of the way or waiting for the adults to pass before continuing,
“Yes, it was wonderful to have a completely fresh start, new building, new pupils and new staff. We’ve worked hard, but we think we can now boast a strong community within the school and amongst the families,”
Helen showed Nick their library, kitchens and main hall, before they returned to her office. Janice, seeing them going in, went to organise the coffee and biscuits. The staff room was buzzing as she squeezed her way through to the tray Sian had prepared earlier, everyone enjoying a sugary doughnut with their drinks. Janice didn’t dare look around too much in case she caught sight of Joe, she didn’t feel ready to face him again without the embarrassing blush creeping up on her. Just as she was making her way back out with her loaded tray the door opened,
“Woops! Allow me,” it was Joe. He stood back and held the door with a flourish, eyeing the freshly brewed coffee and the best china mugs, he breathed in deeply, enjoying the fresh aroma, “How the other half live?” he joked. Janice smiled,
“Helen is entertaining the chief inspector for our OFSTED inspection I’ll have you know.” She reprimanded him; he did his best to look contrite,
“Oh, ‘chief inspector’ is it? I’d better mind my p’s and q’s then, hadn’t I? If I want to keep my job that is.” Janice left him, thankful that the exchange of banter had allowed her to remain cool, what had got into Joe today? He was getting more like his year six boys everyday!
Helen remained ensconced with Nick Berkshire until lunchtime, when they came out of the office for a well-earned break and took lunch in the main hall with the children. Dinner duty staff were assigned a separate table in a corner of the hall for their meal, it tended to be a little noisy sometimes, but Helen felt it was good for the children to see the adults joining them for a meal occasionally.
“We can eat in my office, if you would prefer,” Helen told Nick, “it can be a little clamorous in here at times, although we encourage the children to try to keep the noise to an acceptable level.” Nick shook his head, smiling as he looked around at the children busily consuming their lunches before making their way out to the playground. An orderly queue had formed in one corner to collect the hot meals and an area towards the back of the hall was allocated to the children that brought a packed lunch, not many seemed to, which was a good sign that the meals were of a high quality. If children chose to eat something it must be good.
“No, I’m quite happy to eat with the children. What an excellent idea. I don’t suppose staff would want to do it everyday, but it gives the children a chance to share a time with them that is seen as a social activity.” Helen showed Nick to their table and a year six boy came over to them,
“Good afternoon, Mrs. North. I’m on dinner duty today, would you like me to fetch you both a hot meal?”
“Yes, thank you Jason, what have we on the menu today?” Jason told them the choice of main course, a meat and a vegetarian option, with a choice of three accompanying vegetables. They both chose the vegetarian dish and thanked Jason as he went to fetch their meals. Helen poured them both a glass of water,
“Sorry, we don’t have a wine cellar,” she joked, Nick raised his glass to her,
“I’m glad to hear it! Your good health anyway.”
After lunch Helen saw Nick out, he had another call to make that afternoon, but would return at 3.30 for the staff meeting.
“Well, Helen, I think my team and I are going to enjoy your inspection, if today’s lunch is anything to go by. I’ve enjoyed meeting you and look forward to meeting your staff this afternoon. The ‘no bribery’ rule still stands, but anymore of that apple cake and custard and I could be a ruined man!” He laughed, then realising how much he had enjoyed his morning here he wondered just what the outcome of this inspection was going to be, Helen North and her school seemed to be having an interesting effect on him. He had better keep himself in check, he thought, and remember to stay professional.
The staff meeting passed off without any problems, Nick had the ability to put everyone at their ease and, although they would still remain a little anxious about the forthcoming inspection, the thought of Nick and his team coming into their school wasn’t quite so intimidating now they had met him.
A meeting with the parents was arranged for two weeks time and Janice made a note to ask Sian to come in and give her a hand copying and sending out a letter, along with the OFSTED questionnaires that Nick had given her. This gave everyone the opportunity of submitting their opinions, in confidence, prior to the inspection and would allow the team to gather as much evidence on all aspects of Tanglewood.
***
If the staff meeting could go so smoothly surely today’s could too, Janice thought to herself as she prepared to go through to the staff room and meet with the members of the support staff. If only Helen had been busy today she knew she would be able to get through everything on the agenda and still have time to talk over any problems and agree on the titles to be used on the staff badges, still at least Helen wasn’t planning to come in for the first 20 minutes or so whilst she went over the OFSTED plans.
Sian had already been in and had laid out a tempting display of biscuits, a few of the teaching assistants were already sitting down, coffee in hand and reading through the notes Janice had circulated with the memos. Everyone looked up and greeted Janice as she came in, as secretary and bursar she tended to be looked upon as a go-between with the ‘management’ and the support staff, she didn’t mind as it kept her in touch with the feelings of all the staff in the school, both teaching and support, she liked to think that if anyone had a problem they could come to her if they didn’t want to talk to Helen or Sally about it. Being more staff than management this worked well with the other members of the staff, they did, indeed find Janice easier to talk to at times and certainly at meetings like this, Helen’s presence tended to stop all but the most persistent of voices from taking over or asking questions.
At last everyone was settled, Janice looked around to check that no one was missing,
“Is Frankie not joining us?” she asked the two other learning support staff, Jill Soames nodded,
“Yes, she asked if we could apologise for her, she just has to finish a session with Tom Finny and she will be down.” Janice nodded, everyone else had come in, even a few of the midday staff had come in early, which was appreciated and she made a note to thank them during the meeting.
“Right well, I’ll get straight to business and briefly go over the meeting we had with Nick Berkshire, the inspector in charge of our OFSTED inspection.” Janice went quickly over the main points and only a few questions were asked, which she was pleased to be able to answer without having to go back to Helen. Then came the discussion on the badges, just as Janice noticed Helen slip in through the side door.
“I would like to say,” began Jan Taylor, assistant in year two, “ and I think I speak for a lot of other people, that I object to being called a Non-Teaching Assistant. If we aren’t there assisting with teaching for half of our time I don’t know who is. Take this morning for instance; it was me that took the bottom group for reading again and me who supported them in the numeracy session too. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t pretend to be a teacher and I know that Ruth is the one working on the planning etc and she is the one with the teaching degree, but I just feel that if we are meant to be called NON teaching assistants then that’s all we would be doing.” She finished, blushing as she realised Helen had heard her speech, but smiled as she saw many of the others nodding in agreement with her.
“Thank you Jan,” Janice began, but Helen leaned forward and took over, much to Janice’s annoyance.
“So what is it you would like to be called Jan?” she asked, “I’m not disagreeing with you at all, I’m just interested to find that this is a point that is obviously causing friction here.” Helen was looking about the room as she said this, but her eyes went back to Jan’s face as she finished speaking.
“Well,” Jan began, floundering a little under the gaze of the head, she took a deep breath, “well, Teaching Assistant seems just as good to me, or Support Assistant. Non-teaching seems such a negative term, just like Welfare Staff. Okay, we deal with the welfare of the children, maybe more than the teachers in some respect, we’re the ones sorting lunch boxes, wet knickers, bleeding knees and so on, but we’re also there for the teachers too, supporting them in all manner of ways, including personal. I hear children read, we all do, we also take groups for any number of activities, science, maths, textiles you name it and as for art, who is it spends time frantically trying to make sure the colour mixing is taken in by the children? It’s us the NON teaching staff, the ones who get left TEACHING Emily or Lucy or Liam just how to make green or orange. The teachers have done the theory, but it’s often left to us to do the practical side of things and, without the teacher training I’d like to think we do a pretty good job,” she finished with a flourish and then went bright scarlet this time, “sorry Helen,” she added, “I didn’t mean to bring my soapbox.” Helen smiled,
“Not at all Jan, if you feel that strongly, perhaps it’s as well Janice called this meeting and suggested the agenda. Now does everyone agree with Jan, or would anyone else like to have a say too before we continue?” Most people were in agreement with Jan, at least to some extent, Frankie Evans had now joined them and she raised her hand to speak, Helen nodded to her,
“I’d just like to say that I think it might be an idea to differentiate between classroom support staff and the special needs staff. Perhaps our badges could state ‘SEN support staff’ or something similar, just to clarify what we do.” Helen nodded,
“A good point,” she concurred, “anyone else?”
“I think we should just be called ‘T.A.’s,” suggested Suzi Eames, “that way everyone will know what we do – just like the territorial army, we’re there for back up, anywhere, anytime and for everybody!” Everyone laughed; you could always trust Suzi to lighten the atmosphere and also to sum a situation.
With the general agreement on the badges proclaiming them as Support Staff and Teaching Assistants Janice made notes to get the orders under way that afternoon. Once this was settled Helen excused herself and handed the meeting back to Janice, who was by now feeling a little deflated and glad to bring the meeting to a speedy conclusion shortly after her departure.
***
Half term was looming, at last, the summer was long forgotten and the nights were already drawing in. Plans were being made for the parents meeting with Nick Berkshire for the Tuesday after the holiday, letters and questionnaires had been sent out to all parents and, Janice had noticed, there were already quite a few replies posted in the box. It would be interesting to know what all the parents were thinking of Tanglewood, some were obviously very pleased and were only too willing to sing the praises of Helen and her staff, others they knew would moan and complain about everything and anything. The OFSTED questionnaires, however, were confidential and only Nick Berkshire and his team would be able to read them, although the general opinions would be passed on in the inspection report.
“Hello, Mrs. Parker,” Janice looked up from sorting the replies to the parents meeting to see Wendy Jankes, a small, bubbly woman who was the main organiser for the PTA events, “just popping in to put up the posters for the bonfire and fireworks. Is it alright if I go through and do a bit of photocopying too, it’s the forms for ticket requests?” Janice had a look at the poster Wendy was holding,
“That’s a brilliant poster, Wendy, was that the result of the competition we held?” Wendy held it up and looked proudly at it,
“Yes,” she said, “and I’m particularly proud of it because my Jamie won! It does look rather colourful doesn’t it?”
“It’s super!” Janice agreed, “we’ve got quite an event this year haven’t we? A barbeque, bonfire and fireworks to music so I heard?”
“Yes, it should be quite an evening. Mrs. Adams is bringing some of her homemade mulled wine and will be offering a glass to all the adults, with fruit juices available for the children and non-drinkers. I’ve heard it’s wonderful stuff, some of the committee said they tried it last Christmas, got a bit of a kick to it if you’re not careful though.” Janice laughed,
“I hope everyone is prepared then, although I can’t imagine Julia Adams allowing anyone enough to get them drunk. Do go through to the photocopier, it’s free at the moment, so it’ll give you a chance to get everything done.” She pressed the security button to allow Wendy through and they both carried on with their work. Janice was pleased to find they were getting a good response to the meeting and made a mental note to call the local catering firm to update them with requirements for cheese and biscuits for the evening.
***
The week’s holiday came and went very quickly, the weather had turned a lot colder still and everyone returned to Tanglewood wrapped up in winter coats. Jack Warren was still at the school when Helen came in at 8 o’clock, he always came in early to check everything before going home for breakfast and returning at 9 o’clock.
“Heating’s broken down, Mrs. North,” he told her by way of a greeting, “I’ve been trying to fix it meself but I can’t figure it, reckon we’re going to need to get the engineers. I’m sorry.” Helen shivered, it was certainly quite unpleasantly cold in the school, and there was a damp feeling in the air,
“Not your fault, Jack. I’ll get straight onto them now. It feels like it must have gone off over night, or before that, brrr!”
“I was in yesterday, Mrs. North, things seemed to be okay then,” Jack was keen to impress upon Helen that he hadn’t abandoned the school over the holiday and been keeping an eye on things as the weather turned,
“Oh, no. I didn’t mean anything like that Jack, I know you like to keep things up to scratch, it’s this weather. Just when you need a heating system it chooses to go on strike!” She hurried into her office to find the heating engineers number, “I think we’ll have to get some notices out on the playgrounds to advise the children to keep their coats on for a while. I hope the engineers can do something today, otherwise we may have to close the school, it’s freezing!”
More staff were arriving now and Jack told them what was happening, a couple of people went to organise some notices to put outside,
“I’ll get the coffee machine going,” Janice said, once she had checked that Helen had found the number and was waiting to speak to someone.
Children were bundled into their coats, scarves and hats, no writing was being done as so many had mittens or gloves on which made it impossible. Helen declared that there would be no assembly that day and the infants took it in turns to use the hall for a run about to warm up, whilst the juniors had a run around the playgrounds instead of going out for the usual break time. It was nearly 11 o’clock before the heating engineers got the system running again and another hour before any warmth was really felt in any of the classrooms.
“Ooh, heat at last!” Viv announced, as she ran her hand along the radiator in Joe’s classroom, “I thought we were all going to have to go home if this carried on much longer.”
“Yeah! That would’ve been great Mrs. Edmunds, we could’ve had a day off!” called out one boy, his mates all nodded in agreement,
“That would be wonderful, Carl,” Joe replied as he came in and sat down at the front of the room, “trouble is, you would have missed your science lesson. Now that would have been a shame, wouldn’t it?” he joked. The boys all groaned, but everyone settled down and lessons resumed as normal.
***
“Thank goodness that’s sorted,” Helen announced as she came into Janice’s office, carrying a tray of steaming coffee, “I’m so glad it didn’t happen tomorrow night. It wouldn’t have looked very good to have to cancel the OFSTED meeting because the school was too cold. As it is I bet we have some complaints because we kept the children here, someone is bound to think we should have sent everyone home straight away. I’m glad we didn’t though the aggravation in having to sort out children whose parents have gone to work, or the ones who are on their way to work and don’t want to be saddled with their child at the last minute, it’s much better to have given it a go.” Janice agreed, the thought had crossed her mind that perhaps they should have closed the school immediately, but it had been lucky that it was all resolved relatively quickly.
“We’re expecting about 200 tomorrow night, Helen. It’s going to be a tight squeeze in the hall, but at least they should keep each other warm.” she laughed, “have you spoken to Nick Berkshire this morning? I’ve ordered the wine and cheese etc but is there anything else he might want arranged?” Helen shook her head,
“No, best to keep things simple. You’ve got the urn sorted for the tea and coffee?” Janice nodded, “Nick will be coming with another member of his team and all the governors will be here, along with two representatives from the LEA*. Unless we get a blizzard I think we’re all set, don’t you?” Janice agreed that everything did appear to be ready, but she thought it was tempting fate rather, to mention blizzards, after this mornings deep freeze she could believe anything might happen before the meeting ended tomorrow.
*LEA – Local Education Authority.
***
It was 7.30 and the hall was buzzing with the sound of a hundred different conversations. The weather being the main topic it seemed, with the OFSTED inspection coming only second to that. Most people had heard of the OFSTED inspections but only a few knew what they entailed.
Nick Berkshire smiled as he looked around the packed hall, seemingly immune to the many curious faces turned his way, in his job everyone was anxious to know what their OFSTED inspectors were like, unknown to him it was often his quiet good looks that was attracting a fair proportion of the attention.
“A good turn out,” he said, “let’s get the meeting under way shall we?” Helen led the way to the small stage erected at the front of the audience, and Nick, his colleague John Denyer, the two LEA representatives and Sally Arnold all took their seats. Helen looked around the hall as quiet slowly fell, the school governors were all seated at the front, they had all been briefed before hand but were happy to show their presence at the meeting. Helen cleared her throat, welcomed everyone to Tanglewood and introduced Nick Berkshire and the other members of the group on the stage, quickly handing over to Nick to begin the main business of the evening.
Having covered the basic principles of the OFSTED inspection Nick explained how the team was made up of himself, as the registered inspector and that he was responsible for ensuring that all the inspectors were competent and doing a good job; a lay inspector, who is a person without personal experience of managing a school and four other members with experience and qualifications to inspect all areas of the curriculum, individually specialising in certain areas, such as English or Maths.
He went on to give details on how the inspection would run, assuring everyone that it would involve the minimum of disruption to lessons and to the children.
“It would be silly to say that they won’t know we are here, of course they will and we will be talking to the children, their opinions matter to us. We will be hearing some readers and observing a lot of lessons, but it won’t be anything for the children to worry about, all our inspectors are experienced in dealing with children and we won’t be ‘putting them on the spot’ or ‘grilling’ them in any way.” Helen grinned to herself as she thought of a couple of children who could quite easily grill an inspector or two and certainly put them on the spot given half a chance.
Just then Helen noticed Jack Warren peering in through the open doors, he was looking all around and then seeming to spot Janice he began beckoning to her frantically. What was he up to? Janice slipped out of her seat and joined him by the doors, Jack began whispering urgently at her, then, glancing up at Helen on the stage, the two of them left the hall and vanished into the library, leaving Helen frustrated in her seat and hoping no other major disaster had befallen them.
***
“It’s quite a mess, Mrs. Parker. There’s glass everywhere from the window and water all over the floor. The little buggers have turned all the taps on full and blocked the sinks, so if I hadn’t found it tonight we’d have been in a right state come morning!” Jack told Janice as he led her towards the junior boys cloakroom. Janice groaned,
“I knew Helen was tempting fate. I think a blizzard might have been better.” Jack looked askance at her,
“I don’t know about the weather but Mrs. North certainly isn’t going to be very happy about this, I’m sure. I’ve turned off the taps, of course, but I reckon we’re going to be here half the night waiting to get that window sorted and it’s freezing half the corridor as well.” They were approaching the boy’s cloakroom now and Janice could feel the icy wind cutting through, she could also see a large pool of water spreading across the floor.
“Okay, can you start the mopping up, Jack? I’ll go back to my office and see if I can find an emergency number for someone to board up the window, then I’ll come back and help you get sorted here.” Jack grunted and went to get his cleaning equipment whilst Janice retraced her steps and headed for her office. Passing the hall she looked in to see if she could spot Wendy Jankes or any of the other PTA members, hopefully they would be able to take over serving the refreshments after the main part of the meeting was over. Spotting Wendy sitting with another couple of PTA members she slipped in along side and whispered to her that a problem had arisen and she would appreciate some assistance. Wendy nodded and assured Janice that it would be no trouble, before passing on the information to the two women sitting with her and the three of them followed Janice out into the library. Helen, by now frantically wondering what was happening, fidgeted in her chair and hoped the question and answer session would soon be coming to an end.
“So if you think a teacher is cr.. useless, what happens? Do they get the sack?” It was Mr. Myers, a tiresome man at the best of times and always guaranteed to come up with inflammatory questions. Nick sighed,
“I am sure that won’t be the case at all,” he began patiently, “having already started to collate information on Tanglewood it is obvious that the teaching standards are very high. However, this is one of the aspects of our inspection and should we find here, or at any other school, a problem of this sort it would be discussed with the head-teacher and appropriate action taken, more in the way of support than in sacking anybody, that isn’t what we are here for.” Mr Myers shrugged his shoulders,
“I was just wondering,” he mumbled. A couple more questions were asked; regarding homework and special needs support and Nick answered these before passing back to Helen to bring the meeting to a close.
“Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Also thank you to Mr. Berkshire and Mr. Denyer for coming this evening to meet you all and introduce us to the OFSTED procedures. Now please feel free to join us for a glass of wine, tea or coffee and some light refreshments, which I think are just about ready at the back of the hall by the kitchen.” She looked across but couldn’t see Janice anywhere, only the ladies from the PTA, but everything looked under control. The party on stage led off and people started to stand up and make their way towards the refreshments or out of the hall and home.
“I think that went very well, Helen,” Nick said happily, Helen gave him a preoccupied smile,
“Yes, it did. I’m sorry about Mr. Myers, you can always count on him to be awkward,” she said quietly, Nick laughed,
“Not at all, you always get one, sometimes more than that. Look I can see you have something happening let us go and get our glasses of wine and mingle and you can go and sort it out.” Helen looked at him, relieved,
“Sorry. I don’t quite know what is happening, but I would like to find Janice and see if we’ve had a blizzard strike us.” Nick raised his eyebrows and laughed again, Helen didn’t think she would explain that one just now and left to find Janice.
***
Janice and Jack had just finished mopping up the water in the corridor and most of the floor in the boys cloakroom. Jack was carefully collecting up the glass as Helen appeared at the doorway.
“What has been going on?” she exclaimed, gazing in horror at the broken window and shivering in the freezing draught. Janice explained what had happened and that she had managed to locate a glazier, who was on his way to board it up for the night,
“I didn’t know if you wanted to call the police, but there’s probably not much they could do. Around this side of the building no one would have seen anything and with all the people coming in tonight they probably wouldn’t notice anyone slipping away either.” Janice suddenly thought of all the crime programmes she had watched; she hadn’t thought that they might be destroying evidence. “Do you think we should have left it for finger prints or anything?”
“I don’t think that will be a problem, but I suppose they will have to be informed, if only for the insurance,” Helen concurred, “you’re probably right that they won’t be able to find much in the way of evidence, not when we have ‘open house’ so to speak. Still, I’ll give the local station a call before I go back in to the meeting, are you sure you can cope for now?” Janice and Jack assured her that everything was under control and Helen made her call before returning to chat with more parents.
Finally, after everyone had gone home and Helen had thanked Wendy and the other ladies for stepping into the breach, she was able to return to deal with the latest crisis. The glazier had arrived and was beginning to board up the broken window, as she returned to her office to await the arrival of the police Helen noticed Nick Berkshire waiting in the library. She thought he had left with John Denyer and the others and was surprised and a little anxious to find him still there.
“All done?” he asked, “I’ve heard what has happened, and your staff seemed to have coped marvellously for you.” Helen agreed,
“I’m just waiting for the police now and for the glazier to finish before locking up.”
“Would you like me to stay with you whilst you wait?” Nick asked, but she shook her head,
“No, it’s okay thank you. Jack Warren, the caretaker, will be staying with me. He only lives along the lane and I think he’s feeling rather important at the moment.”
“Well, if you’re sure. I’ll be getting off home and I’ll be in touch soon.” Helen saw Nick out and went back into her office. The police arrived shortly afterwards and surveyed the scene, made notes and talked with Jack about how he found it. They asked them both if they may have any idea as to who might be the culprits, but although she had her suspicions, Helen only said that it could be any of a number of local lads and was probably just a prank.
“Okay, but if you should have any further ideas or hear of anything which may help do let us know. We’ll just take a look around outside before we go.” The officer closed his notebook and, together with his colleague, went off just as the glazier came through to the reception,
“There you go, Mrs. North,” he said, “that should do until tomorrow. It’s quite secure and will keep the draughts out. I’ll try and get back during the morning, but it’ll definitely be sometime during the day.” Helen thanked him and saw him out too. At last she and Jack were able to make a final check around the school before locking up and going home themselves.
***
The next day the news of the broken window and flooded cloakroom soon spread around the school. Helen found this quite interesting as, apart from the obvious boarded window, there was no other evidence of the offence and no one had been told of the details last night. She had agreed with Jack, Janice and Sally that they would keep things fairly quiet for the time being and just see what came to light. Last night none of the parents had really known anything had been wrong, apart from a window being broken, as it had all taken place well away from the main hall. However, listening to a few conversations on the junior playground and along the corridors, it soon became apparent that the perpetrators had been only too eager for the details to be spread.
“I wouldn’t mind betting,” Helen mused over her coffee with Sally, “that there’s a few people in the junior end who know exactly what happened last night and who was involved.” Sally agreed,
“But how are we going to find out?” she asked, “I don’t know think we’d make it undercover as moles in the junior playground, do you?” Helen laughed at the thought,
“No, I wish it were that simple, but I do think that this person, or persons, will trip themselves up if they are bragging too loudly. Let’s just hope we don’t suffer any further damage whilst we wait to uncover them.”
At the end of assembly that day Helen took the opportunity of mentioning the incident to the whole school. She was careful not to imply that she thought anyone at the school was involved, but that it may be some local youths out to cause a nuisance.
“The police have been informed and they will be keeping a closer eye on the school at all times. In the meantime, if anyone does have any information that they would like to share, please come and speak to me, or any member of staff as soon as possible.” With that she dismissed them and they all filed off to their cloakrooms to wrap up in their coats for playtime.
Helen made her way back to her office and was taking a quiet five minutes with her coffee when she heard a shy knock at her door. Looking round she met a very worried pair of brown eyes, under a mop of unruly, soft brown hair. She smiled encouragingly,
“Hello, Tim,” she said, “Can I help you?” Tim looked about him nervously and took a hesitant step further into her office, before whispering,
“It weren’t me Mrs. North,” and turned even paler than he had been before. Helen gestured to her sofa and half closed the door to allow Tim a little privacy from the outside hustle and bustle.
“Come and sit down, Tim,” she began, “now don’t worry, just tell me what’s bothering you. What is it that wasn’t you?” Tim sat on the edge of the sofa and tried again, his voice barely stronger now,
“What did the window. It wasn’t me, but I think I know who might’ve.” He looked down at his knees and started nervously picking a scab there. Helen reached out and touched his hand, stopping him from causing any more damage to himself. He looked up at her, his eyes filling with tears and his bottom lip trembling. At six Tim was the youngest of three brothers, a rough and ready lot, although Tim seemed to be quieter than his elder siblings, not always in trouble as they seemed to be. She felt, with dread, that she may know what was coming next.
“Do you want to tell me?” Helen encouraged him softly. Tim’s eyes didn’t leave her face, a huge tear slid down his cheek as he nodded at her. His heart was breaking as he was torn between his loyalty for his family and what he felt was right.
“It was my brother,” he said at last, “not just him though, but I don’t know who else, really I don’t.” He started to cry in earnest now, with the relief of telling his secret and the shame of betraying his brother. “He doesn’t know that I know, he’d kill me if he knew I’d told, too, but you looked so sad in assembly this morning and I was so cross, ‘cos I love my school, Mrs. North,” he sobbed, “and you and my teacher! I don’t know why they did it.” Helen passed Tim a tissue and he wiped his tears away roughly, before dragging his sleeve across his nose. Helen cringed inwardly,
“Well, Tim,” she began, unsure how to console the boy, “you have done the right thing coming and talking to me. Can you tell me how you know it was your brother? Which brother was it James or Phillip?” James was in year six and Phillip had left Tanglewood two years previously, but most of the staff remembered him well.
“It were Jimmy, I heard him talking to his mates. He told them what he’d done and he was laughing.” Tim took a deep, sighing breath, over the worst now he was able to look up at Helen again, a worried look on his face, “He won’t go to prison will he, Mrs. North? I’ve not really done him in have I?” Helen smiled and ruffled his hair,
“No, Tim I don’t think you need to worry about that, but the police might need to talk to him.” Tim looked panic stricken,
“He’ll kill me if he finds out I’ve dobbed him in!” the enormity of what he had done seemed to be striking him now and a fresh flow of tears started,
“Don’t worry about that Tim. James doesn’t need to know anything about our chat, I can just ask the police to come and have a general chat with the boys. Without any actual proof we won’t be doing anymore than that.” With further assurances and another tissue administered Helen ushered Tim on his way for the last few minutes of playtime before she went back into her office and called Sally in to discuss the latest turn of events.
Bonfire celebrations – or shall we say FIREWORKS?
After the dramas of Tuesday’s meeting and young Tim’s revelations, everyone welcomed Saturday night and the Tanglewood PTA bonfire celebrations. Fast becoming a local tradition the firework display was arranged by a group of the Tanglewood dads, who had business connections with a large firm and managed to get an awesome selection of pyrotechnics organised for the delight of parents and children alike. Burgers and hot dogs were available, but this year a huge barbeque had been booked with a local butcher and lamb and pork joints were sizzling tantalizingly. Along with mulled wine being ladled out by Julia Adams, everyone was having a thoroughly good time.
Having moved in just around the corner from the school Joe had decided to walk to the celebrations and enjoy having a few drinks, without having to worry about driving home. He met Natalie and Kate as he came through the main gate,
“I’m not late am I?” he asked, seeing the huge crowd on the playground and playing fields. Kate shook her head,
“No, they’re just about to light the bonfire and the fireworks will be another half hour yet, I think. It’s freezing tonight isn’t it? Come and have some of Julia’s mulled wine, it’s lovely, guaranteed to warm the cockles, so they say!” Joe went along with the two women, looking around and waving to a few of his class as they went, it was amazing how much older some of them looked when they were out of school uniform.
“Are you on your own tonight, Kate?” he asked,
“No, Tony and the children were here just a minute ago. I think they’ve gone to have a look at the barbeque and get something to eat. What about you? No girlfriend in tow?” Joe laughed, his private life was still fairly unknown to most of his colleagues, which wasn’t such a bad thing,
“No, footloose and fancy free I am!” He quipped, “what about you Natalie, on your own too?” Natalie raised her eyebrows and smiled up at him, her eyes sparkling,
“So far, Joe, but you never know do you?” she tucked her arm through his and Kate tucked hers in on the other side, laughing, the three of them made their way to Julia Adams’ cauldron of mulled wine.
They were all enjoying a second glass of Julia’s excellent concoction when Kate’s eldest, Gary, came limping towards them.
“Whatever have you done?” Kate asked, he always seemed to be getting into some scrape or another. Gary pulled up one leg of his joggers to reveal an angry looking graze down his shin,
“I slipped off the wall over there,” he moaned, “ahh, it really hurts Mum!” Kate shook her head in despair,
“Take care of this would you,” she said, passing Joe her half empty glass, “I maybe sometime.” With that she helped Gary away to find the first aid post. Joe laughed and tossed back the remaining wine from Kate’s glass.
“This is really rather good you know,” he said to Natalie, a warm feeling spreading through his chest, “do you think Julia will let us have one more?” Natalie held out her glass,
“You’re not trying to get me tipsy are you, Mr. Hemsley?” she giggled a slight flush already on her cheeks. Julia was busy so Joe helped himself to the ladle and poured them both a large measure,
“Nah! This stuff’s harmless, more like fruit juice I think.”
They made their way through the crowd to the bonfire. People jostled them along and Natalie used the tight squeeze as an excuse to slip her arm back through Joe’s. Finding a space they stood waiting for the firework display to begin and chatting to a few of the parents and children surrounding them.
“Hello Joe, hello Natalie,” came Helen’s voice from behind them; she was doing her ‘duty’ and mingling. Stopping for a chat she noticed the possessive way Natalie was holding onto Joe and the flirtatious look in her eye. “I see you’ve been indulging in Julia’s brew,” she said, eyeing their empty glasses, “you’d better be careful, it’s quite potent.” Joe laughed,
“Don’t worry, I think it’s nearly run out. Are the fireworks starting shortly?” He asked. Helen looked over towards the side of the playing fields; a group of people could just be made out amongst the shadows,
“I think they are, I’d better go and make an announcement, prepare the parents with little ones. See you two later.” She hurried away.
Natalie shivered suddenly, Joe looked down at her,
“Are you cold?” he asked, “we can get a bit nearer to the fire if you like.” Natalie shook her head, her eyes wide and her lips pouting provocatively, “I’ve got a better idea,” she said and, slipping her hand into his she led him through the crowd and away towards the school building.
***
The noise of the fireworks and the oohs and ahhs of the crowd were muffled inside the classroom. It was fun to think that no one knew they were in here, although it was dark the flames from the bonfire and the exploding pyrotechnics illuminated their faces.
“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Joe chuckled quietly, as Natalie pulled him into one of the dark and deserted classrooms, “I think I may have drunk a little more than I thought.” Certainly the warm glow was spreading through him in an altogether quite pleasant way, his head was feeling a little dizzy now too.
“Nonsense,” she replied, “you can never have a glass too many! And anyhow, aren’t you enjoying yourself?” She snuggled closer to him; it was cold in the classroom, freezing outside. Her hands were like ice as she slipped them inside his sweater,
“Oooh! That was unfair!” he gasped, but didn’t try to remove them. The two of them huddled closer and he wrapped his big jacket around them both, he breathed in the smell of her and felt the warmth of her body. As she turned to look up at him, he smiled slowly, his beard tickling across her frozen cheeks, a firework exploded into the sky, casting a red glow across Natalie’s face,
“You look rather lovely snuggled there,” his deep voice sent ripples along her spine making her shiver. “Mmm,” he murmured, “come closer.”
He bent his head and kissed her.
Joe could feel Natalie’s lips part as she responded to his kiss, her legs seemed to go weak and she leaned against him, he wrapped his arms tightly around her, feeling her clinging to him as if she couldn’t let go. Her tongue was playing along his lips and he felt the promise of more than he had intended as she responded with an unexpected passion, her mouth and body moving against him and stirring a reaction that was more drink induced desire than contemplated passion. Still it seemed like a good idea at this moment, he slid his hand down her back and held her firmly to him as the kiss went deeper.
Suddenly the door burst open. Joe and Natalie sprang apart,
“I thought I saw someone coming into the building!” It was Jack Warren, as alert as ever when it came to school security. “Excuse me for interrupting, but I think it’s best you continue elsewhere. Mrs. North won’t be best pleased to find people canoodling in her classrooms!” Jack said and laughed gruffly.
“Sorry, Jack, we’ll leave now. We didn’t mean to upset anyone, a little merry with the wine I think. Sorry to have troubled you.” Joe led Natalie out of the classroom, both of them suppressing an urge to give in to a juvenile laughing fit as they, much to Natalie’s disappointment, returned to the crowd of staff, parents and children enjoying the firework display and barbecue on the playing fields.
“Hello, you two,” Janice was coming towards them with a bottle of wine, “can I top you up? Oh, you haven’t any glasses, let me find you some. Are you enjoying the display? I think it’s one of the best we’ve had.”
“Yes, it’s quite exciting, isn’t it Joe,” Natalie replied, her eyes dancing and not leaving Joe’s face. He smiled; a little embarrassed by the display that was taking place in front of Janice, almost as obvious as the pyrotechnics. The cold, fresh air seemed to have sobered him up swiftly, he hadn’t meant to get quite so carried away; this could only lead to complications if Natalie got the wrong idea which, he had to admit was as much his fault right now.
“Yes, very good.” Joe replied, “let me help you Janice, you don’t seem to have stopped all night. Where are your boys, are they enjoying themselves?” Slipping his arm from Natalie’s grasp he moved into the crowd still talking, leaving Natalie undecided as to whether she should follow or stay where she was. Luckily Kate Appleby appeared from the other direction and started chatting and introducing her to her husband, Natalie smiled and murmured her greeting, but she was looking after Joe’s retreating figure,
“I want you, Joe Hemsley,” she whispered to herself, “and by God I’m going to have you, just you wait.”
***
