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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 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

I see summer as a chance to relax (a bit), to do things differently and to catch up on reading – to reduce the pile of books by the bed and challenge my thinking. Working with young people in educational … Continued