My year tens sat a module test this afternoon. It's been a stressful time teaching them, with pupils being not listening, being rude, arguing black is white and trying to get me sacked. But after the exam today the pupils seemed somehow different, it took me a while to put my finger on it but I figured it out in the end: they were cheerful.

Even one of my weaker pupils reckoned they'd got all the marks from one of the sections. I felt a huge weight lifting from my shoulder, both metaphorically and literally as I ditched the past papers they'd been doing into the recycling box.

And now it's onto the next module...

PS: Let's just hope they haven't all come out with Ds.

It's year nine parents' evening on Wednesday. I'm already practising my 'he's a nice enough lad, but I do wish he could keep quiet for more than three seconds' speach. Prior to the year seven equivalent my class were angelic, clearly the thought of their parents hearing from half a dozen different teachers was enough to scare them straight. Pity it didn't last.

My year nines however seemed unconcerned about what I might have to say about them. One pupil even told me that his mum was 'going to have a right go at' me. I told him I was very much looking forward to meeting her to discuss his progress, or lack thereof, in my lessons. I also wonder what her expression will be when she hears his quote. It's times like that I wish I carried a dictophone in lessons.

But the award for the silliest-thing-to-say-before-parents'-evening goes to the boy who I put in detention this dinnertime. When leaving the room told me that he misbehaved because he didn't like me. Honestly, some pupils should go for a career in undertaking: they're just so good at digging holes.