There have been times in the past when I’ve wondered how some local communities could be missing the point that so many staff were working so hard for the young people in the school. I’d never worked anywhere where the staff offered their spare time so freely or with so much sense of vocation. I’m pleased that a lot more people now recognise this!

I have always valued the great loyalty and support which other colleagues have given me. Staff teams have always been strong at Boston Spa: the school benefits hugely from the commitment that teachers and non-teachers give to their teams. Over the years this has helped us overcome all sorts of challenges. It’s this resilience which has helped the school serve young people so consistently and gain such impressive results, whether it be in academic results, or the long and distinguished record of extra-curricular music, drama and sport, or Sixth Form successes, or the whole raft of Healthy Schools, emotional health and Investors in Pupils initiatives.

However, students are what really make the experience of teaching at Boston Spa so fantastic. I’ve always found students generous in their response to what I have tried to do in the classroom, and I know that this is what other staff relish. Good working relationships are central to our collective success and I’ve constantly found young people friendly, refreshing and receptive; they don’t exploit teachers’ good will; they readily engage with a teacher’s enthusiasm (even my obsession with English etymology!); what more could a teacher want!

Boston Spa Comprehensive has always stood for commitment to achieving the best for every young person, for innovation and optimism, for hard work and loyalty to students and their families. I’m proud to have been part of all this at Boston Spa.