Mike gave us an outline of the dangers involved in Headship including snapping a tibia and fibula on a school adventure pursuits trip and having a steel rod inserted, and receiving an intimate silicone implant: so don’t be alarmed if you hear a dull explosion one morning at breakfast……...
He also alluded to a 41-year teaching career, which included being Head of Department in an East London Secondary in 1974, Head of a Primary in Gateshead with 83% free school meals in the 1980’s, and in his current post for 20 years at what is now Swindon’s first Outstanding Primary Academy which is Goddard Park based in Park North. Mike is committed to, and has pride in Swindon (and it’s GWR heritage, together with Swindon Town FC, and the town’s potential for the future).
A more colourful past involved him being politically active, first as a County Councillor in Wiltshire, and then a Borough Councillor in Swindon. He admitted to being the leading light in bringing Residents’ Parking to Swindon streets (for environmental reasons as well as parking for local residents) much against the wishes of the governing party at the time in Wiltshire. On the day this was reported in the Evening Advertiser it carried a report on the back page of a certain Trevor Embling winning the Swindon Men’s Badminton Championship – a sport also graced by Randy Burden, and enjoyed at a much humbler level by Mike. When he became a Deputy Head he drew a line under further political activity.
In 2010, Mike was elected National President of the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT). This involved much travelling to international Conferences, and the great opportunity to see schools in different Countries. ‘League tables do not tell the whole story but are convenient for the sound bite. Many school systems simply do not match up. In Finland – widely regarded as one of the best in the World there is no external examination until the age of 18. Why? It would distort our curriculum say Finnish Heads. Is anyone listening in the Department for Education? They recently added yet another test, this time phonics for 6 year olds!’
Veronicah, James and Mike outside Alcatraz when attending the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Conference in San Francisco in 2011.
Mike concluded with stories of personal witness on the importance of reaching out to all young people. He believes he has changed far more lives as a Headteacher than as a politician. Come on the Town!
