Monday My alarm goes off at 6.30am and it takes me a few minutes to work out where I am. I remember: it’s my reading week - a week out from university when I’m supposed to catch up on work - although I’m spending it at my mum’s primary school, and this is when she gets up. We arrive at 7.15am and I’m set to photocopying the ICT curriculum while Mum talks me through my timetable. This involves teaching Year 6 how to produce interactive documents, visiting other schools to discuss web design and creating a website for the school. It’s not yet 9am.
Tuesday I’ve only ever created one website - I think my expertise may have been exaggerated. Nevertheless, I’m given a group of Year 6s. I’ve prepared a list of qualities that a website should have, based on what I’ve been taught on my graphic design degree. I quickly learn that 11-year-olds would rather have a bright, illegible web page than one that informs a specific audience of the problems of pollution and deforestation.
Wednesday I start work on the site. Mum interrupts me while she’s showing people round the school. She introduces me as the school’s web designer - with such an official title, you’d think I’d be getting paid. My work is further interrupted when she reappears with the Year 5 teacher whose teaching assistant is sick. Can I help with mental maths?
Thursday Year 6 are timetabled for IT this afternoon, so instead of the four children I had this morning, I’m faced with 14. Unfortunately, the program I’m using has only been installed on one computer, so I’m forced to teach a handful at a time around a screen. I assume the excitement of the project will spur the others on and immerse myself in showing them how to create links and paste in pictures. Trouble is, I’m not quite sure what the others are doing while I’m showing these four. Luckily the TA arrives.
Friday Although I work on the website there are a few hitches, such as finding a background colour that gives the “right impression” and making sure the photos are suitable. I visit another primary school in the afternoon and see their website. It’s very professional. We discuss design techniques and I find the teacher in charge has used a completely different approach, one that is guaranteed to work. Looks like I’ll be back at school for another 6.30am start on Monday.
Kate Bindotti is a student in Bristol. Her mother is a primary head in Plymouth
