Why did you want to become a teacher?

From my early teens I always kind of somehow found myself involved in leading youth groups and camps. I became responsible for small groups then larger ones and then organising events, and I found that I both enjoyed it and was reasonably ok at supporting people. I was a bit lost at times as a teenager (I thought I was going to be a professional snowboarder!), but a few people prompted me to give some thought to becoming a teacher, so I decided to apply and was accepted for training. I haven’t looked back.

What is your first memory from school?

Sitting and listening to the teacher reading Badjelly the Witch (this picture still haunts me), returning the teacher’s tea cup to a smoke-filled staffroom and pulling my wiggly tooth out in the boys toilets. My friend suggested that we tie my tooth to a piece of string and attach the other end to a door that he would then close. It seemed like a good idea until the door closed.

What makes a ‘good day’ at school?

I’m always watching and listening to the interactions around me and trying to ‘take the pulse’ of the school. My favourite days are when everyone at school is focused, challenged and working together and helping each other.

If I walked into your classroom on a typical afternoon, what would I see going on?

You’d probably see students working in groups on a task that they had a role in planning or negotiating in some way. I’ll be walking around checking in on how students are going and answering questions, along with trying to locate misplaced whiteboard markers that I was holding just a moment ago.

What’s the funniest thing a child has ever said to you? 

All are unprintable here unfortunately. However all involve children being far more aware of the dynamics of a delicate adult situation than the adults realise, and making an observation that probably needs to be said but any polite adult would never dare say.

What are your “trapped on a desert island” books or movies?

This is a very tough one, as I love both movies and books. For fiction I’d go with the Inspector Rebus series by Ian Rankin, non-fiction would be any military history book by Antony Beevor. That’s a pretty good start.

For movies, I like anything by the Coen Brothers but The Big Lebowski is a particular favourite (definitely not for children). I also like crime classics such as Goodfellas, along with excellent books that have been adapted into great films, such as the 2011 movie Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings movies.

What is the hardest thing about being a teacher?

1. The constraints of traditional education systems: timetables, subjects and exams, and impediment of persisting with them. Thankfully this is beginning to change.

2. Conversations with people who have strong opinions about teaching, often based on their own experience of school, but little understanding of how things could be different and why it would be a good thing!

What inspires you?

Smart and kind people who think about, engage with and care deeply about the world around them. People who see opportunities and solutions where others see problems, those who seek out and engage with challenges and test themselves.

What is your greatest accomplishment?

My younger son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at 2 ½ years old, and my wife, his older brother and I spent many years and every penny we had on therapies to get him communicating with the world and attending school. He’s made tremendous progress over the years, he is now thriving at university and we could not be prouder of him. My wife deserves the bulk of the credit for his growth as she worked with him full time, day in and day out for years, but I’m proud of the part I’ve played.

What would the students be surprised to find out about you?

I’m terrified of heights, like watching Korean TV shows and also enjoy doing my shopping at the local wet market. Talking to the ladies about the price of vegetables is one of the favourite parts of my week.