During Lockdown and without the usual pressure and hectic nature of my work, I decided to undertake the writing of a fiction book. I enrolled on a ’21 Days to eBook publication’ course from my friend Neil Bakewell and started … Continued
Well, this year has been one of unpredictability, adaptation and change while at the same time confinement, restrictions and long hours without guidance or compass. Plenty of people are thinking about ‘returning to normal’ and wondering what the ‘new normal’ … Continued
I went out on a 45-minute bike ride this morning in the quiet lanes where I live. Quiet, mainly traffic-free and the sun was shining. I saw a few people out an about – couples walking dogs, a man pushing … Continued
Be who you needed when you were younger. It has to be said that school isn’t for everyone and whether we like it or not, some students really struggle. Whether they struggle due to their family circumstances, their challenging adolescence, … Continued
As ever, I’m going to start the New Year with the #Teacher5aday reflection and pledge as it’s a handy way to measure, monitor and plan wellbeing whilst getting some support and accountability publicly. The wonderful #Teacher5aday initiative was started about … Continued
There is a scene in Barry Hines’ novel ‘A Kestrel for a Knave’ where Billy Casper – our downtrodden hero – make a decision with huge consequences. As you’ll probably know, Billy is being brought up in a mining town … Continued
I often hear the quote “There’s no I in team” or see it as a nice graphic on social media. It means two things to me: There’s no room for big egos in a team (see The Apprentice’s manufactured … Continued
I don’t often talk about being adopted. This family was my family. But they’re not my birth parents. I was adopted in 1967 from Guernsey and I’m so grateful to Jean and David Bernard for making me their son. I’ve … Continued
We rise by lifting others…or helping them to climb the ladder themselves. It’s my birthday today. I’ve been awake for a while reflecting on what I’ve been up to in the past 52 years and realise that for the first … Continued
Start thinking about yourself. Something that can rarely be needed as an instruction to a teenager. Trouble is, most thinking at that time is focused on what your hair looks like, which trainers you want and how your selfie game … Continued