How many Villa players in the England squad?

If I were Gerard Houllier, I would've spent all of today at my desk, calling all the other premiership managers saying

"Hi, le Petite Gerard here,how's it going? ...

Cool, I was just wandering how many players you had in the internationals this week? ...

That many? Well, it's the thought that counts. At least you tried. ...

No don't feel bad. ...

No, please don't cry. ...

No, Arsene, please don't get upset ...
...
...
...
Sorry, I've got call waiting. Monsieur Learner is on line two. Okay, bye now, bye, bye, yeah, bye."

However, I am not Monsieur Houllier. Yet I have been sat at my desk a lot of today. And have't been overjoyed by the way some visitors have been treated today.

Yesterday, however, was a very different story. There was I, sat in the meeting room with visitors from a potentially new Bristol school, when a thud shakes the door frame asunder. Was it year 3 asking for their lunch? No. Someone trying to get me to say my three dinners were ready. Neigh. A member of year 6 with some good work to show. Non.

It was infact 8 - yes, eight - members of year 6 with good work to show. And mighty fine work it was indeed. One of my visitors came to look too, and, after they had all gone, he told me how impressed he was, and that he was an ofsted inspector, and that he thought our year 6 books were of the highest quality. Put that in your peep and schmurk it!

What else is there to say except...

That is all.

Robotic manifestations surround me...

... no that isn't a witty lyric from your's truly. That is year 4, around my desk, getting even more resources to develop phase 2 of their robotic creations. Apparently, 7 Zark 7 hasn't made it... yet. (However, since it's post two weeks ago, have you noticed how the sound effects from Twiki have appeared in the jingles in the Chris Evans Breakfast show? Famous blog spotters ahoy me thinks.)

So, what have learnt this fortnight?

• Year 6 can definitely write in an unpleasant tone;
• Year 5 can, if motivated and in the correct mood, work with incredible dedication and diligence;
• Year 3 and 4 can build robots, write about them, and, if the need arises, act like them;
• Year 1 and 2 can produce the most amazing books for babies, and some pretty good displays too;
• Reception and nursery are wonderful at welcoming visitors to our school (so is Briony Haines).

Anything else? Yes Dad, you were correct, 6 points puts a very different spin on things, and makes me feel much much better too.

Look out for the posters - "Appearing in a school near you - work from the children of Badock's Wood!".

You heard it here first.

That is all.

When illusion spin her net...

Greetings fellow travellers round the blog of our edusphere.

Having walked around the school several times this week, and been smugly delighted at how pupils and classes have been settling down to tasks so well and so enthusiastically, and having seen the amount of work going on in some of the books, I reach (almost) the end of a very satisfying week.

The school, the leaders, and indeed myself, have worked to get a number of heavyweight tasks completed, and then some. But, above all, what have we learned?

• Year 1 / 2 can select exactly the right time to get working, and when to get some help;
• Year 2 can make the most amazing books for children;
• Reception and nursery sure do know how to eat fruit;
• Year 3 and 4 love their robots, and year 3's books are getting better and better;
• Year 5 can draw;
• Year 6 love symmetry... a little too much;
• No one likes coming into assembly late;
• Year 3 have been the best in assembly again...just;
• Year 1 really can do some amazing maths.

For once, I could go on and on. But first of all, a question:

How bonkers are Miss Andrews and her running club? Several thousand miles of the field in the pouring rain... and they were smiling! Is this natural? Legal? You wouldn't find me in a pair of white denim cut offs and a "Frankie says..." t shirt on such an evening.

Year 3 and 4 - my entry for the robot hall of fame would have to be the one from Battle of the planets - 7 Zark 7. (and no, I did not fancy the girl from G-Force.. well, maybe just a little bit. I got a lot of use out of that "I love Princess" t-shirt in the 1980s). Might I also enter a plea for Twiki, the robot from Buck Rodgers, who could dance. Yes, that's DANCE! How about Cy from Battlestar Galactica? Or Marvin the paranoid android? For that matter, what about paranoid android by Radiohead? I always preferred "I think I'm paranoid" by Garbage myself. Oh dear, appear to have meandered a bit. Soz.

So, as I lurch into another argument with the top year 6 group about the number of interior angles in a decagon, may I wish you all a good weekend, and a happy second half of January.

That is all.

Happy New Year!

Greetings one and all and welcome to 2011 - the best year of your life, if you've a mind to make it such. I have lofty ambitions, for myself and for the school, and am looking forward to many things.

However, first of all, I'd like to invite you all to participate in the inaugural edition of the worst christmas present of the year award. My contender is a spotty oven glove, which allegedly was purchased as it "matches our mugs". Come on, beat that if you dare. Answers on a postcard to ...

So, as Mr Scaiff is walking around scratching his his head and worrying about a relegation dog fight that will never come to fruition (surely the bluenoses will go down before us?!?) and Taylor Iles and Freddie Grierson fight out a baby sumo contest, what are you looking forward to this year? What are your ambitions? Aspirations? What triumphs do you plan? If you haven't thought about it yet, shouldn't you? My friends spent all of new year planning what they're going to give up. As I said, once again, you shouldn't give something up, you should take something up. And they ignored me. Once again.

What have we learned in this very short week?

• That year 3 do know how to behave in assembly, and they have so far done it marvellously.
• That year 6 need to remember how to treat people, especially the adults.
• That the whole school can whisper brilliantly in assembly.
• That praise is........

Apparently, the snow is on its way again. Good job I never let her put the sledge back in the loft...

That is all.

Jingle bell, jingle bell jingle bell rock

Monday morning arrived and I did not know what to expect from this week, I must confess.

However, as Christmas weeks go it has to be considered one of the best. I have thoroughly enjoyed it. The productions were excellent, the carol singing great, the (cough strewn) christingle very special and the dinner outstanding.

So, all I have left to say is a simply yet strongly heartfelt Merry Christmas and happy new year to each and everyone of you out their in snowy blogland. Hope your time with you and yours is indeed the most wonderful of the year.

And, for 2010, that is very much all.

Take care please.