Dave Watkins

It’s mock time!

At some point in the next couple of weeks, or possibly already, year 11 will start their first round of mocks. Before I go any further, I should say the majority of my experience was in a 11-16 school, so if you also have year 12/13 mocks then I feel for you, and particularly your…

Half Term.

It's the holidays. What the fuck1 are you doing reading an education blog? Get outside, play with your kids, read a book, watch a film, do something else. Look! It's outside! Until next time.

You made it!

It's half term! One half term down, five to go. No, wait, come back, don't go cry in the corner... Have a beverage of your choice - you've earned it. When we reached this particular half term, my overriding feeling was always relief. This one is always a monster. We go from the light…

Inspirational?

A few years ago, there was an advertising campaign which had celebrities naming a teacher who had inspired them. I can't remember much about it1, apart from Bob Hoskins growling someone's name. There's also a video on YouTube of Ian Wright meeting his former teacher guaranteed to…

Bad teachers?

Nope, not the Cameron Diaz film, which I admit I found pretty funny, although I am easily pleased1. The reason for all the lesson observations and performance management shenanigans is down to bad teachers. Nothing improves a blog like a random picture of Cameron Diaz2. In an earlier…

Could Do Better… The first week Open evening and other shenanigans The grind starts…. Performance Management Lesson Observations It’s all over. After 31 years, I’m hanging up my chalk1 and trying …

Now I've stopped teaching, I've been blogging about my memories and thoughts over the last 30+ years at the chalkface. I'd love more eyes on it!

david-watkins.com/could-do-bet...

#education #redundancy #teaching

The Originals Rage' By David Watkins: Howling Good Finish - The Ginger Nuts Of Horror Review Website Ten years after the wolf war begins, a London mishap changes everything in David Watkins' thrilling end to The Originals series in The Originals Rage review.

In between reviewing new books, I am making an effort to review books that "fell by the wayside" thanks to my depression over the years.

Today it is The Original's Rage by @davewatkins.bsky.social

The final part of his excellent werewolf trilogy.

gnofhorror.com/the-original...

💙📚🩸

Lesson Observations

Following on from last week's musings on Perfomarmance Management, let's take a look at the other bit to PM - having a lesson observed. Lesson observations are weird. They are undoubtedly nerve wracking, but they shouldn't be. See, the problem is teachers work in isolation most…

Performance Management (PM)

Ah, is there any other two word phrase designed to invoke a mixture of fear, disgust and feelings of inadequacy in a teacher than ‘performance management’? The process involves looking at your performance (clues in the name!) over the past academic year. It is meant to…

Performance Management (PM)

Ah, is there any other two word phrase designed to invoke a mixture of fear, disgust and feelings of inadequacy in a teacher than 'performance management'? The process involves looking at your performance (clues in the name!) over the past academic year. It is meant to…

The grind starts…

So I had some feedback from people1 reading this and as a result, I'll do less footnotes this week, promise. Okay, with that out of the way, let's get on with the grind. You've been back in school three weeks. What's that? No, really, you have. The summer seems a lifetime ago…

Open Evening and other shenanigans

Ah open evening - one of the highlights of the academic year1. Children come to look around 'big school' and get excied about the range of activities teachers have cobbled together to show them. These activities are designed to get the children to be students, so…

I've got a few that are either part or entirely set in Devon and/or Cornwall. Happy to send you something? Also Adam Nevill 'Cunning Folk' is clearly set this way, of not explicitly.

The first week

A school year starts something like this: Day one: 9am start (earlier if you're really unlucky). You've just had the worst night of sleep you've had in the last six weeks, possibly ever. You turn up early, because you want to set a good impression1. The staff room/hall/wherever…

Last Days

No, this isn't a review of the splendid Adam Nevill book... Today is my last day at a place I have worked since January 2005. I have taught for 31 years, so two thirds of my career has been in one place. To say today has be emotional would be an understatement of biblical proportions.…

Top Book Picks for 2024: A Reader’s Review

Better late than never, right? The endless cheese fog has lifted and I'm gearing up to returning to work tomorrow - the same day my eldest leaves us to return to university. Normal life will resume, which is depressing enough, and I'm doing dry-ish…

two book covers and the back cover synopsis

Some book post

Cold Eternity, the latest SciFi Horror from S.A. Barnes and @torbooks.bsky.social

And The Way Up is Death, complete with my review quote from @danhanks.bsky.social and @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social

Fears of the Dark - 6-week horror writing school Join us for six weeks of horror writing workshops, feedback sessions and more and experience the fear of the dark...

Looking for some online horror workshops? Or even group feedback sessions? Then Fears of the Dark this Feb and March has you covered… www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fears-of-t...

I guess this means the algorithm is working, or perhaps its Amazon's way to say 'dude, stop obsessively checking your book'...

#horror #werewolf #trilogy #amreading

Same issue. Have tagged @support.bsky.team in my original post, no response. Emailed support, but have not had a response beyond 'we will get back to you as soon as possible'. Just found an answer on here which says its the Samsung keyboard, so switch to Gboard and it should work. Not tested yet!

Get the fuck on with it......

And you know where I am if you want eyes on it.

You are very welcome mate. I really enjoyed it!

Top Book Picks for 2024: A Reader’s Review Better late than never, right? The endless cheese fog has lifted and I’m gearing up to returning to work tomorrow – the same day my eldest leaves us to return to university. Normal life…

Shadow of the Hidden has now made it onto 3 different people's favourite reads of 2024 lists. Blimey! Honoured!
Here's the latest from the mighty @davewatkins.bsky.social
david-watkins.com/2025/01/05/t...
#BookSky #HorrorBooks 📚😱

Top Book Picks for 2024: A Reader’s Review

Better late than never, right? The endless cheese fog has lifted and I'm gearing up to returning to work tomorrow - the same day my eldest leaves us to return to university. Normal life will resume, which is depressing enough, and I'm doing dry-ish…

One month later and no response, and I still can't open the app on my galaxy 22 ultra. Anyone want to help @support.bsky.team?

@nighttidemag.bsky.social look back at 2008's Pontypool and find a very different kind of zombie film, and @davewatkins.bsky.social sits down with @horrortree.bsky.social to answer the #SpookySix interview questions.

Happy reading, friends! 🎄🦌☠️

I did an interview with The Horror Tree and Willow Croft. Fun was had, even if Willow seems to actually like spiders, which is, well, wrong.

horrortree.com/the-spooky-s...

I did an interview with The Horror Tree and Willow Croft. Fun was had, even if Willow seems to actually like spiders, which is, well, wrong.

horrortree.com/the-spooky-s...

oooooohhhh.....

Some research incoming...

Mine's gone too.