On the 12th October, I delivered this speech to the delegates at The Award’s Forum in Cluj, Romania: Many of you will know the opening lines of Charles Dickens’ novel, A tale of two cities. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times… it was the spring of hope, it was…
As so many children have started back at school today, I found myself reflecting on the story of one child I taught, many years ago. Let’s call him Christopher. He was in my Y6 class in the late 1980s, back when we called them 4th year juniors. He was attention seeking, usually using poor behaviour…
I was honoured this week to receive an Honorary Doctorate in Social Science from the University of Bolton. As one friend commented – “Dressing up and a show; perfect way to celebrate, John!” It wasn’t quite the normal show of a graduation ceremony that you’d expect to see. Covid rather put paid to that… Instead,…
Held annually on 5 October since 1994, World Teachers’ Day commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. I’m proud to have been a teacher, joining the ranks of those people who put in long hours, preparing lessons that will gently coax the young people in their charge…
Back to school. Three words that are loaded with extra meaning this year. I don’t really recall how I felt about going back to school after the long summer holidays when I was a child. I guess that some years I was excited; sometimes I may have been apprehensive; maybe on one or two occasions…
Many years ago, I helped to develop a culture of continual assessment in English schools, particularly at AS and A level, moving away from final exams and relying much more than ever before on teacher assessment, modular courses and the recognition of active learning. I am still proud of the BTEC courses a number of…
More than twenty years ago, in 1998, The Age magazine, based in Melbourne Australia, published an article about what schools might look like in the future. “Next century, schools as we know them will no longer exist. In their place will be community-style centres operating seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Computers will…
The death of George Floyd at the hands of white police officers has stunned and outraged the world. On Sunday afternoon, I watched footage of the statue of 17th century slave trader, Edward Colston, being pulled down and rolled into the harbour of the city closest to where I grew up, during a demonstration that…
Together, we face challenging and uncertain times. Fewer and fewer of us are able to avoid the impact of the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Our charity and young people doing their Award are no different, although our story is not all gloom and doom. We are having to react, but in a way that…
Today is the 30th anniversary of the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. 30 years ago, I was a young and idealistic teacher, working in a primary school in Lichfield, Staffordshire. I remember reading about the Convention at the time and thinking how surprising it was that no-one had considered…
