Mr BdB

Chemistry Teacher & Head of Science

[Mr BdB @WRBdB]

Blog on how to approach the first lesson with a new class.

#edublogshare @MrTs_NQTs

https://t.co/6C0WTwLOSa

[Mr BdB @WRBdB]

A new blog post: Why TLRs often aren't worth it: Calculations, rules and alternatives.

https://t.co/6maTkhFGok

[Simon Baddeley @SimBadd18]

One hour of extra work per day (a duty, a meeting, some admin) would be paid at £18.50 on a £3,600 TLR.
Tutoring is currently around £35 per hour.
National Minimum Wage is £12.71 from April.
Decide how much your time is worth before applying for a TLR post.

[Mr BdB @WRBdB]

@nicolajharvey @RogersHistory I agree with you. I wonder if decisions would be different if people realised that pay isn't treated equally.

[Mr BdB @WRBdB]

A new blog post: Why TLRs often aren't worth it: Calculations, rules and alternatives.

https://t.co/6maTkhFGok

[Mr BdB @WRBdB]

@nicolajharvey @RogersHistory Yes, I think you could easily write a counter piece to this.

It's very personal and depends on needs and ambition at the time. I also didn't touch on higher tax rates. Soon the top of UPS will be in the higher tax rate after pension - which will mean the TLR is even less.

[Mr BdB @WRBdB]

@nicolajharvey @RogersHistory I agree the pension is very good. But it does come under the deduction column on a pay slip.

The NI and student loans are the interesting part for me.

[Joel Kenyon @joel120193]

New Blog Post 📝

Over the years I have received a lot of terrible teaching advice, but I have also had some brilliant pointers.

Some of the best advice I have had has been seemingly insignificant changes to my practice. Here are five examples.

Link below

[Mr BdB @WRBdB]

@RogersHistory @TeacherTapp @miss_mcinerney

[Mr BdB @WRBdB]

I haven't written a blog in ages. However suddenly felt that this might be useful or worth discussing at least.

https://t.co/agS97rEzvA

[Mr BdB @WRBdB]

A new blog post: Why TLRs often aren't worth it: Calculations, rules and alternatives.

https://t.co/6maTkhFGok

[Mr BdB @WRBdB]

@STEMyBanda Arbor is awful.

[Mr BdB @WRBdB]

@JuniperEd @MissBird90 Could you ensure it doesn't happen again next year?

[Mr BdB @WRBdB]

@tes This is incorrect: "The top 10 most popular subjects remain the same as last year, with science: double award being sat by the most students in 2025, with 925,606 entries."

It is double counted. The number of students is half entries and thus not "sat by the most students".

[Dr David Boyce @DrDavidBoyce]

Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you… Big Blue.
Possibly the world’s largest single-domain copper sulfate crystal. 🧪
A year of careful growth in my lab, thermodynamics, patience, and kilograms of bovine hoof disinfectant.

Slow-grown in cold water - this is chemistry as art.
How big will it be next year?

#iteachchemistry

[Dr Peter Hoare ⌬ (Ph or pH? 🤔) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧 @PHoare1963]

most unusual venue for my A-level Chemistry Revision Workshop this morning near Launceston today - St Michael’s Church (as the village hall was already booked until lunchtime!). Back in the hall now for the afternoon session! 👍

[amyjv 👩🏽‍🔬 @amyjv]

Poll here!

Who start GCSE science in Yr 9?

[amyjv 👩🏽‍🔬 @amyjv]

How many hours do you have to teach GCSE sci per science per week?

[Mr BdB @WRBdB]

New favourite lesson: The Copper Cycle. Cu --> Cu(NO3)2 --> Cu(OH)2 --> CuO --> CuCl2 --> Cu. Lesson used for all of my classes. Y10's identify reactions inc. redox, neutralisation, precipitation, thermal decomposition, displacement etc. #RealTimeChem #chemed #time4chem #asechat

[Mr BdB @WRBdB]

@edmunds_dr I wouldn't worry too much. Most children will have had hand, foot and mouth. Probably including you. Just no one remembers as it is relatively mild.

Hope she's better soon. Usually it's not too bad.