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What a Difference a Year Makes!

On April 9th, 2024, we experienced the worst weather in my hometown since the 1980s. Extremely high tides arrived on the same day as 70mph winds, which meant there were some spectacular sites for anyone brave enough to venture close to the sea wall that day. I recorded this short video on my phone for prosperity.


Fast-forward 365 days to April 9th, 2025. Things were slightly different yesterday, as this picture taken on my trip to Wells shows!



'That's all very interesting', I imagine you are thinking, 'but why is he sharing this on his blog?' Well, the difference between the weather on these two days, exactly one year apart, perfectly mirrors my change in mental state since the first video was taken.

In April 2024, I was feeling battered and bruised after thirty years in teaching and nearly two decades in leadership roles. After leading the school through the pandemic, three Ofsted's, budgets shrinking year by year, the SEN crisis and withstanding the battering some parents feel it is acceptable to give schools now, I did not have much left in the tank.

Yesterday, in the lovely sunshine of Wells, I felt relaxed and refreshed. I was not counting down the days till the end of the Easter break or trying to fit as much 'real life' into the two weeks as possible; I could just enjoy the moment. My feelings and the weather yesterday reflect where I am in life now. I am starting to get somewhere with my writing, which I am enjoying as I can do it how and where it suits me best. Although I am still busy, I have more free time and I am looking forward to the second part of my career. I am excited about the possibility of getting my book published and using my experience to help the next generation of heads. 

It is a bit daunting, but as someone who felt institutionalised by the education system, I feel like a real person again!


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