The Secret Teacher

There is a lesson that will never feature formally on a school timetable but which we could all benefit from devoting more time to

Students are missing out by having teachers who choose to bring less to the table than they could if they felt more motivated

All youngsters can benefit from an adult who observes their needs closely and attentively

The craic may have been good for best part of two years, but there is now a realisation that a high price is to be paid for taking such a route

The Secret Teacher: Parents need to trust that teachers will do right by their children. It is a big ask, but a necessary one

We should safeguard the classroom so it remains a haven of genuine human contact

The approach is simple, but it sits in our blind spot for one specific reason: we have been conditioned to prioritise relationships above all else

We cannot possibly protect young people from what we do not even know about

Many of our students suffer emotional storms on a regular basis and still show up to school

Many of those I teach are addicts, and rationalising with addicts about what they are addicted to is pointless

We know how we want our lessons to play out, but there’s faint hope of it happening with so many diverse recipients

Faced with pupil panic and parental pressure, miracles no educator has ever been able to perform will be expected during the points race

Making sacrifices consistently to reach a significant goal requires commitment. It is the marker of those who truly reach their potential

Despite its absence from my classroom, the notion of ‘punishment’ clearly features heavily in students’ lives

Complaining about going back to school has always been a thing, but a new academic year brings with it many positives