Lydia glanced towards the window and the patter of rain against the glass. ‘It’s a shame the break in the weather didn’t stop for long. I’m hoping it does again before seven. It’s football practice tonight, and I don’t fancy standing around watching in that.’
‘I’m sure the app I looked at said it was supposed to be dry this evening, so it should do. How’s your day been?’
‘Strange, to be perfectly honest. We had those people from the trust wander in just after break, and they stayed until it was almost lunchtime.’ Lydia shrugged. ‘You know what it’s like when you have visitors, the majority of the class behave perfectly, but there’re always a couple who seem to thrive on the extra attention and play up more than they have done all year.’
‘Ah, I can imagine who you might be referring to.’ Gemma grimaced. If she were correct, then they would be the two she normally had to speak to after assembly time.
‘Exactly.’ Lydia sighed as she stepped forward to the kettle and filled her own mug before pouring Gemma’s. ‘Never mind. It’s normally different people who visit each time, so I doubt I’ll ever have to look them in the eye again.’
‘Probably not. Besides, it’s not like they ever bother to give us any feedback anyway.’ Gemma shrugged. She knew she was more than likely being overly harsh. After all, just as the majority of the people who visited from the trust had never stepped foot inside a classroom, she herself had never stepped foot inside an office. And they might have. There was a possibility some of them had even been teachers before. Some of them. She just remembered overhearing one who had visited years ago when the school had first been absorbed by the trust, who had stated that they hadn’t any experience of schooling. Business, yes, education, no.
‘Umm, I did think that, but I’ve been wondering whether they’ve never left feedback or if it was Diane who didn’t pass the feedback to us.’
‘Ooh, that’s true. You might be right.’ It would make more sense, otherwise the entire idea of visiting would be a waste of time.
‘I guess we’ll find out when Bertie steps up as head.’ Lydia shrugged before taking the milk bottle from the person in front and topping up both hers and Gemma’s drinks.
‘Thanks.’ As they filed through the door, across the corridor and into the conference room with the other remaining teachers, Gemma took a sip of her coffee before looking up to see Bertie standing at the head of the large table. So, he had emerged then. Pausing, she looked around the room. It was packed as it usually was during staff meetings, but unlike every other week during their usual scheduled Wednesday meeting, the atmosphere in tonight’s impromptu gathering was animated. People were talking amongst themselves, eyes darting towards poor Bertie, who seemed only too aware he was the topic of most people’s conversations.
‘Gemma, here.’ Tugging Gemma on the sleeve, Annie nodded towards the chair next to her.
Sitting down, Gemma placed her mug and notebook on the table in front of her and turned to Annie.
‘Bertie’s here.’ Annie nodded towards him and stated the obvious. ‘At least we know he’ll be stepping up as head now.’
Gemma nodded. It seemed that was likely. Especially now Bertie had shown up at the school again. Settling back against her chair, she positioned herself to look at Bertie as he began clearing his throat.
‘Could I have everyone’s attention, please?’ Bertie’s voice rose as the hubbub and chatter in the room subsided. ‘Thank you. The first thing I’d like to say is to give you all my thanks forwelcoming our visitors today. I know their visit would have been a complete surprise, and you know how we like to give you notice for these types of things, so please note your welcoming nature has been appreciated.’
‘Why were they here? I had two of them sitting in my classroom throughout my entire science lesson this afternoon.’ Adam, besides Bertie, the sole male teacher, tapped his pen against the table. ‘It’s fine, but if I’d known, I’d have likely chosen a calmer lesson to showcase.’
‘I had four in my class for over an hour.’ Lydia spoke up.
‘I apologise.’ Bertie held his hands up, palms forward, as the room quietened again. ‘As I said, this was not a planned visit. In fact, some things came to light at the end of the day Friday, and had we known how quickly things would escalate, you would have been notified.’
‘What things?’ Lydia asked. ‘And where’s Diane?’
‘Diane Norton has stepped down with immediate effect.’ As soon as those words left Bertie’s mouth, conversation erupted in the room again, and he was bombarded with question after question. Yes, the information had been disclosed to the Senior Leadership Team during their early morning meeting but according to Annie they had been sworn to secrecy. Not that that had stopped Annie from gossiping.
‘Why?’
‘Have they fired her?’’
‘What did she do?’
‘… leaking roof.’
Fisting his hand in front of his mouth, Bertie cleared his throat again. ‘I cannot and will not go into details, and I urge you not to speculate. We will continue to teach to the best of our abilities and to see that every child who enters this building is not affected by this disruption.’
‘Are you stepping up as head?’ Annie asked.
‘No, I will not be. I shall remain deputy headteacher here at Woodland Primary, but we shall have a new headteacher.’ Bertie’s cheeks pinked slightly.
‘When from? Surely, you’ll be acting head until the position is filled?’ Adam frowned.
‘The position has already been filled. The trust has found a replacement who will fill the position immediately.’ Bertie nodded.
‘Immediately? As in tomorrow?’ Annie frowned. ‘Do we know them? Have they even visited the school before?’
