Inspection Day Reflections and the Spirit of School Sports

Today has been filled with a whirlwind of tasks and responsibilities. If you've been following my blog, you might recall a recent post where I mentioned that inspectors were scheduled to visit from the state level to evaluate the English and Math teachers at our school. Well, today was that day.

The inspectors arrived in groups, focusing initially on just the English and Mathematics departments. I was called in as the English teacher and asked to bring along my teaching records. When I sat down with them, I realized this was more than a casual check-in; they were thorough in their review. They wanted to ensure that my lesson notes aligned with what the students were learning each week, tracking my weekly topics carefully. They also examined whether I had marked students’ work, completed the class diaries, filled out the attendance registers, and maintained other essential records.

Thankfully, the inspectors found no issues with my records. They did, however, encourage me to further motivate my students, emphasizing the importance of keeping them engaged in their studies. This feedback felt constructive, and I appreciated the reminder to be mindful of how I can support my students’ enthusiasm for learning.

Next, the Mathematics teachers were called in for their review. They received positive feedback as well, though there were a few notes of improvement suggested. The inspectors found that some of their lesson notes were not fully up-to-date and felt that record-keeping could be improved. However, considering the overwhelming number of students, it was hard to blame the teachers entirely. At present, there are only two Mathematics teachers to cover a student population of around 1,200. Managing that many students effectively with limited staff is understandably challenging, and the government bears responsibility here for the shortage of teachers, which directly impacts both student outcomes and teacher workload.

During the inspection, I found myself involved in tasks that I didn’t anticipate. I helped locate and organize certain files and documents that the inspectors requested. While it was extra work, it felt important to assist the school during this critical time.

Besides the inspection, there was another significant event unfolding.
Our students are in the middle of preparing for next week’s inter-house sports competition. While the inspectors did not require us to teach today, as they were primarily focused on reviewing records, the sports preparations kept the school atmosphere lively.

As the house mistress of Pink House, I had additional duties to oversee. Our house played a football match against Blue House in a friendly yet competitive spirit. The match was specifically between the girls from each house, and both teams gave it their all. After an exciting game, we ended in a tie. Although we didn’t come out as the clear winners, I was proud of the team for their effort and teamwork on the field.