A thread for teachers about Year 9. For years, in their various guises, they were my nemesis. My cause of sleepless nights and nauseous journeys to work. They were also the ones who berated me when I left them for an INSET day and cried when I finally left the school. 1/

I now have a daughter in Year 9. She's come down to express her rage and indignation at the class being asked to do a substandard homework again, when it WASN'T THEIR FAULT. She has a LOT to say. 2/

I let the fruity language pass, asked if she was sure this was a violation of human rights (she was) and gave her a hug. 'You really like that teacher, don't you?' I asked her. 'Well, YES!' she admitted. 'But the injustice!'

Sometimes she goes through whole days of grunts and lack of acknowledgement of other humans. Others, she cartwheels and jumps on the trampoline and giggles like crazy. It is SUCH a fascinating age. 3/

When they push back at EVERY little thing you try to do to engage them, remember this about Year 9. What they are really saying is: 'Do you really believe in me? Really? (I don't believe you). Do you REALLY?' And when they realise you do, you've got them for life. 4/

(They'll still drive you nuts - they'll scupper your most lovingly prepared lessons and enchant you entirely unexpectedly in the corridor) 5/

And if, like me, you're lucky enough to know a few of them still when they're in their 30s, and they finally admit to calling you all of the swearwords, you'll wonder whether this is indeed the most authentic year of them all. 6/

I do wonder - if you've known someone - truly known them - when they were 13, whether you've got kernel of truth about them inaccessible anywhere else. Someone should write a book about this.

(I was VILE when was 13. VILE, I tell you.) 8/

I've lost count of my memories of teaching that include Year 9. The quiz I planned until 3 a.m which was entirely sabotaged by a row between a group of girls. Also, the class that insisted on taking over all of the hard when when I was heavily pregnant... 9/

Interestingly, though, my daughter's form (Y9) have been 'given all of the strict teachers' (sic). And you know what? She REALLY values the fact that they are consistent and have high expectations. It takes some digging to admit it, but she really does. 10/

One final point. Daughter is pretty decent but occasionally goes through phases of being really rude/dismissive. When questioned later, she genuinely - GENUINELY - doesn't realise the impact of her actions on others. 11