Hazel Pattison

[Hazel Pattison @pattison_ha]

@MbarkCherguia Ferrero Rocher

[Hazel Pattison @pattison_ha]

@BlaiseOutdoor Massive well done to everyone, you were all amazing, super proud. Nothing beats seeing you all cross that finish line! Thank you so much Mr W and team for all your hard work, dedication and support. You are all stars 🌟

[Hazel Pattison @pattison_ha]

@marygoorekinnie Same!

[Hazel Pattison @pattison_ha]

@thebandGHOST Absolutely amazing, love it. Massively helping with the post concert blues after seeing them in Birmingham 🖤🤘

[Hazel Pattison @pattison_ha]

Archie's first concert and looking ace in his awesome jersey, thank you so much @HOCKEYARTCO

[𝐇𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐘𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐂𝐎 @HOCKEYARTCO]

Archie has the most badass parents ever! They took him to a Slipknot show in LDN yesterday

And he was the only guy to wear one of our reversible sweaters.
We salute you maggot!

Thanks for sharing these pics with us mum. @hcpattison

[Hazel Pattison @pattison_ha]

@Thehullboy1 You will smash it!! Good luck!

[Hazel Pattison @pattison_ha]

@BlaiseHighSch @GreenshawTrust Have fun! 💚

[Colin Spencer @ColinSpenc4257]

This made me Laugh.😂

[Hazel Pattison @pattison_ha]

Buzzing from yesterday's event where the whole of @BTGroup Mobile Operations came together to celebrate culture, collaboration and change. @JesseDufton was our amazing guest speaker and the day finished with a very special thank you from our CEO. #bestteam #dreamteam #MOPS

[Naomi Fisher @naomicfisher]

Punishments Day (with @_MissingTheMark)

A parent of a Year 7 child who is struggling with attendance has got in touch. Their school (in a deprived area) has sent a letter about the Year 7 Rewards Day, to be held in the last week of term. It is a fun activity day to be held at school, run by an external company. It is the sort of thing most of the children will not have had the opportunity to do before.

To attend, children must have above 90% attendance, not too many behaviour points and their parents must pay a significant amount of money. Payment won’t secure a place, because if the child’s behaviour or attendance isn’t good enough, they’ll be excluded regardless.

If they can’t participate in the Rewards Day, they must attend school anyway in school uniform and do a normal school day. Her child is at 80% so isn’t invited. This is a punishment. Being excluded from a Rewards day will be experienced by those children as a punishment.

Here’s why policies like this are counter-productive and unfair.

These policies reward the lucky. They reward those who find school easier, who don’t suffer from chronic illness or anxiety and whose families can find extra money. They reward those who are more able to control their behaviour (something which is highly variable at age 11). They reward those who have had a better year.

These policies shame the vulnerable. They make it highly visible to everyone who are the year’s ‘Successes’ and ‘Failures’ in the eyes of the school. They end children’s first year at secondary school by reminding them all that some of them have had a much harder time than others – and that those people are not worthy of celebration. It could lead to increased bullying and ostracisation.

These policies are a double punishment. Behaviour points are already punished by detention or isolation. There is already a system in place for attendance. To collate those points and attendance rates and then punish the children again means that the slate is never clear.

For those who are struggling this is a way of ending a difficult year on an even more difficult note. They will conclude that their school thinks the problem is them. It is very unlikely to lead to improved behaviour and attendance in Year 8, because it doesn’t address any of the reasons why school is hard for them – and it will make them feel bad about themselves and negative about school.

What’s the alternative? If you’re going to do something fun at the end of term, do it for everyone. Show them that they are all part of the school community and that they are all worthy. End the year on a positive note for all, regardless of attendance and behaviour points.

You never know, that might make a difference – and it will be the most vulnerable who most need to know.

[Naomi Fisher @naomicfisher]

Imagine you start a new job and they send a strict dress code, down to the colour of your socks and style of your shoe. They also send you a list of equipment which they say you must have every day. Some of it seems a bit strange - two green pens?- but off you go dutifully to Smiths and equip yourself.

On the first day, you’re lined up with your colleagues and inspected. Anyone whose clothes aren’t exactly according to the dress code is told they’ll have to work an extra half hour. Same for any missing equipment. The penalties add up - wrong colour socks and missing protractor? One hour after work.

You’re a bit concerned at this because you had arranged a lift home and if you have to stay late you’ll miss it. You check your clothes and equipment, all seems okay. You pass the check, but the woman next to you has the wrong shoes. She’s distressed at the news that she’ll be staying late - she had plans later. Tough. She starts worrying about how she’s going to get new shoes to avoid the same tomorrow whilst also staying late at work. You don’t know how to help.

You get into your office and look around at your colleagues, but there’s no time to chat. On the whiteboard is a list of expectations for the day. You must be on task at all times and this will be monitored through your computer. Toilet breaks are limited to particular times and you’ll be queuing because it’s the same time for everyone. Eyes must be kept on your computer and this will be tracked. You must sit facing forwards and not slouch. You must use a regulation ruler whenever you read a document. If you break the rules, you’ll be kept after work the same day.

You’re told that if you get too many ‘after works’ then you’ll spend a day in the Quiet Room where no one will talk to you for the whole day and you can’t eat lunch with your colleagues or go to the toilet more than twice. You start to feel a sense of unease. You’re worried about whether you can comply and what will happen if you start gazing off into space or rocking on your chair.

The office is very quiet. ‘Isn’t it lovely?’ says your manager. ‘People here appreciate our structure and clear boundaries. You’ll do the best work you have ever done here because no time is wasted. We’ve set it up so you don’t have to worry about making decisions, you just do what we say and concentrate on your work’.

You think perhaps this isn’t the right place for you, but they remind you that you’ve signed a five year contract without a get out clause. There are no other options. You are powerless.

What effect would that have on you? Would you be happy and relaxed at work? Would you be motivated and doing your best for those five years? Might you feel anxious and trapped or resentful and angry?

And why would we think it would be any different for our kids?

[Hazel Pattison @pattison_ha]

@Jdbutters @BlaiseOutdoor Thank you 🤩 they've started and are 2 Tors down. Lovely weather for it for a change 🤣. Hope you're well.

[Hazel Pattison @pattison_ha]

Archie's turn for Ten Tors this year with support from big bro! Wishing all of @BlaiseOutdoor lots of luck, you're amazing and we're already so proud! #armytentors

[Hazel Pattison @pattison_ha]

@BlaiseOutdoor @BlaiseHighSch Good luck everyone, we'll be thinking of you!

[Hazel Pattison @pattison_ha]

@RosieFoxRox @BlaiseOutdoor Thank you! Hope you've had a lovely eve, see you Sunday!

[Hazel Pattison @pattison_ha]

@RosieFoxRox Sounds fab!! We're going to find a beer garden as soon as we get there! They will all do brilliantly, so proud of them all 💚 Have a lovely weekend 🌞

[No Context Brits @NoContextBrits]

Trying to find the “fuck off” cup.

[Hazel Pattison @pattison_ha]

@BlaiseOutdoor @BlaiseHighSch @GreenshawTrust Have a fantastic time everyone!! ☀️🌞

[Hazel Pattison @pattison_ha]

@Jdbutters @ourrachblogs We'd be OK sharing that box then 🤣