I taught every year for 33 years, 18 of those years as headteacher of large state secondary schools.
So what?
Well, on Thursday Claire Stoneman’s tweet made me reflect upon what I do now, as an educational consultant, since I stepped down from headship.
One thing I learned whilst teaching is that teachers listen to teachers and headteachers listen to headteachers. I knew that I had a limited shelf-life once I stepped away from the classroom. If you did the job once, but you’re not doing it now, remaining credible with those who still teach five days a week is a real challenge. You have to know what you're talking about! Otherwise, why should someone teaching their fifth lesson of the day at the end of a week when they have already taught 22 lessons, been a form tutor, delivered an after school revision class and done three break duties, listen to someone who hasn’t?
Since 2021, I have been championing those who are working in our schools, now. During our Huh curriculum project, Mary Myatt and I interviewed over a hundred colleagues who, with a tiny number of exceptions, are still teaching pupils on a daily basis. We were keen to use our platform to promote their expertise.
My latest project entailed profiling 18 of the best teachers I know, and analysing their common traits through the lens of research by Rosenshine and Furst from 1971.[1] Those teachers’ stories are told in my forthcoming books – one primary and one secondary – which will be published in the early summer.
In the classroom I was like a round peg in a round hole. I loved teaching. The thing is, I was the future once, but not any longer. I’m 61 this year. You wouldn’t want me back teaching, Claire. I would have to start from scratch and I’m not sure I have the energy. The pupils would wonder what on earth grandad had to teach them…
So, with all the humility I can muster, what I try to do now is pass on what modicum of wisdom I might have gained during my 33-year-long teaching career, and celebrate those classroom heroes - like one of my books' 18 teachers, Jack Bream - who are doing the most important job in the world!
[1] Rosenshine, B. and Furst, N. (1971). Research on teacher performance criteria. In: B.O. Smith (Ed.) Research in teacher education, pp. 37–72. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall