[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] allow me to tell you about two different
allow me to tell you about two different
allow me to tell you about two different stories from two very different lives
stories from two very different lives
stories from two very different lives one of a teacher an educator me and one
one of a teacher an educator me and one
one of a teacher an educator me and one of war and fear and desperation of a
of war and fear and desperation of a
of war and fear and desperation of a little boy that I once knew allow me to
little boy that I once knew allow me to
little boy that I once knew allow me to tell you how those stories have
tell you how those stories have
tell you how those stories have overlapped and interweaved and became
overlapped and interweaved and became
overlapped and interweaved and became one a story of stilettos and of mud of
one a story of stilettos and of mud of
one a story of stilettos and of mud of explosions in refuge refugee camps and
explosions in refuge refugee camps and
explosions in refuge refugee camps and of strength in the face of adversity of
of strength in the face of adversity of
of strength in the face of adversity of Dunkirk spirit story one starts with a
Dunkirk spirit story one starts with a
Dunkirk spirit story one starts with a gobby girl from Watford who found
gobby girl from Watford who found
gobby girl from Watford who found herself teaching in an education system
herself teaching in an education system
herself teaching in an education system a system increasingly in turmoil hearing
a system increasingly in turmoil hearing
a system increasingly in turmoil hearing stories of lost hope cultures of fear
stories of lost hope cultures of fear
stories of lost hope cultures of fear diminishing faith a system that causes
diminishing faith a system that causes
diminishing faith a system that causes one in four of our newly qualified
one in four of our newly qualified
one in four of our newly qualified teachers to leave the best job in the
teachers to leave the best job in the
teachers to leave the best job in the world in the first few years of their
world in the first few years of their
world in the first few years of their career and one in ten to flee our
career and one in ten to flee our
career and one in ten to flee our profession every year increasingly many
profession every year increasingly many
profession every year increasingly many in search of a better work-life balance
in search of a better work-life balance
in search of a better work-life balance fleeing wars are not won by evacuation
fleeing wars are not won by evacuation
fleeing wars are not won by evacuation but sometimes the urge to escape
but sometimes the urge to escape
but sometimes the urge to escape dominates whether it be a classroom or
dominates whether it be a classroom or
dominates whether it be a classroom or the war zone there’s always the quiet
the war zone there’s always the quiet
the war zone there’s always the quiet promise of a better life elsewhere of
promise of a better life elsewhere of
promise of a better life elsewhere of hope of sparkling if less than movie
hope of sparkling if less than movie
hope of sparkling if less than movie tomorrow’s of just being somewhere else
tomorrow’s of just being somewhere else
tomorrow’s of just being somewhere else I’m a teacher it’s been in my blood
I’m a teacher it’s been in my blood
I’m a teacher it’s been in my blood since I was a child and yet after 16
since I was a child and yet after 16
since I was a child and yet after 16 years of inspiring young minds or at
years of inspiring young minds or at
years of inspiring young minds or at least trying to
least trying to
least trying to I found myself joining those statistics
I found myself joining those statistics
I found myself joining those statistics disheartened by a system that
disheartened by a system that
disheartened by a system that increasingly trained dancers with fetch
increasingly trained dancers with fetch
increasingly trained dancers with fetch regimented routines and steps rather
regimented routines and steps rather
regimented routines and steps rather than building humans with the ability to
than building humans with the ability to
than building humans with the ability to freestyle or to dance like nobody’s
freestyle or to dance like nobody’s
freestyle or to dance like nobody’s watching and so I made the difficult
watching and so I made the difficult
watching and so I made the difficult decision to quit
decision to quit
decision to quit unable to align my values and ethos to
unable to align my values and ethos to
unable to align my values and ethos to the system I found myself in I walked
the system I found myself in I walked
the system I found myself in I walked away
away
away I didn’t walk away I staggered suffering
I didn’t walk away I staggered suffering
I didn’t walk away I staggered suffering from anxiety attacks panic
from anxiety attacks panic
from anxiety attacks panic attacks and utterly heartbroken my whole
attacks and utterly heartbroken my whole
attacks and utterly heartbroken my whole identity was lost because what either
identity was lost because what either
identity was lost because what either Natalie who always wanted to teach but
Natalie who always wanted to teach but
Natalie who always wanted to teach but could no longer step inside a classroom
could no longer step inside a classroom
could no longer step inside a classroom and running parallel but in a totally
and running parallel but in a totally
and running parallel but in a totally different life is Story number two I
different life is Story number two I
different life is Story number two I call it a story I’ve used a bit of
call it a story I’ve used a bit of
call it a story I’ve used a bit of creative license there because I don’t
creative license there because I don’t
creative license there because I don’t actually know the beginning or the
actually know the beginning or the
actually know the beginning or the ending the truth is it’s a series of
ending the truth is it’s a series of
ending the truth is it’s a series of snapshots memories of one little boys
snapshots memories of one little boys
snapshots memories of one little boys journey a collection of photographs that
journey a collection of photographs that
journey a collection of photographs that now I hold close to me to stop me for
now I hold close to me to stop me for
now I hold close to me to stop me for getting him completely story T is a
getting him completely story T is a
getting him completely story T is a story born of war of the 65 million
story born of war of the 65 million
story born of war of the 65 million people who were forcibly displaced from
people who were forcibly displaced from
people who were forcibly displaced from their homes in 2015 one of 25 million
their homes in 2015 one of 25 million
their homes in 2015 one of 25 million refugees story to belongs to spider-man
refugees story to belongs to spider-man
refugees story to belongs to spider-man a six-year-old from Kurdistan a boy with
a six-year-old from Kurdistan a boy with
a six-year-old from Kurdistan a boy with no real beginning or ending a timeless
no real beginning or ending a timeless
no real beginning or ending a timeless transcendent boy a boy who will forever
transcendent boy a boy who will forever
transcendent boy a boy who will forever be six years old wearing that red and
be six years old wearing that red and
be six years old wearing that red and blue jacket and in that camp he loved
blue jacket and in that camp he loved
blue jacket and in that camp he loved the color yellow and he loved dinosaurs
the color yellow and he loved dinosaurs
the color yellow and he loved dinosaurs but more than anything he loved
but more than anything he loved
but more than anything he loved helicopters and we’d be sat there in our
helicopters and we’d be sat there in our
helicopters and we’d be sat there in our tent and it’s here the way before I
tent and it’s here the way before I
tent and it’s here the way before I would and he’d jump up and he’d be out
would and he’d jump up and he’d be out
would and he’d jump up and he’d be out and our lesson would be destroyed with
and our lesson would be destroyed with
and our lesson would be destroyed with him beckoning and pointing pointing up
him beckoning and pointing pointing up
him beckoning and pointing pointing up at Dunkirk skies that once were full of
at Dunkirk skies that once were full of
at Dunkirk skies that once were full of world war ii fighter bombers and
world war ii fighter bombers and
world war ii fighter bombers and Spitfires but now were home to his
Spitfires but now were home to his
Spitfires but now were home to his helicopters of hope and I’d follow him
helicopters of hope and I’d follow him
helicopters of hope and I’d follow him gazing up at infinite possibilities and
gazing up at infinite possibilities and
gazing up at infinite possibilities and with twirl and we’d spin like rotor
with twirl and we’d spin like rotor
with twirl and we’d spin like rotor blades or propellers gliding dancing
blades or propellers gliding dancing
blades or propellers gliding dancing laughing all children deserve an
laughing all children deserve an
laughing all children deserve an education it’s a fundamental human right
education it’s a fundamental human right
education it’s a fundamental human right and yet Spiderman had never been to
and yet Spiderman had never been to
and yet Spiderman had never been to school before I met him in fact only
school before I met him in fact only
school before I met him in fact only about 50% of forcibly displaced children
about 50% of forcibly displaced children
about 50% of forcibly displaced children of primary age are in full-time
of primary age are in full-time
of primary age are in full-time education and these statistics get more
education and these statistics get more
education and these statistics get more alarming the older these children get
alarming the older these children get
alarming the older these children get there’s only a 25% chance that
there’s only a 25% chance that
there’s only a 25% chance that spider-man will ever be in secondary
spider-man will ever be in secondary
spider-man will ever be in secondary education and there’s only a 1% chance
education and there’s only a 1% chance
education and there’s only a 1% chance that he’ll ever get to higher education
that he’ll ever get to higher education
that he’ll ever get to higher education to university and some of these children
to university and some of these children
to university and some of these children found their way or were carried broken
found their way or were carried broken
found their way or were carried broken limbs clothed in desperation to Western
limbs clothed in desperation to Western
limbs clothed in desperation to Western Europe to the refugee camps of northern
Europe to the refugee camps of northern
Europe to the refugee camps of northern France and this is where my story and my
France and this is where my story and my
France and this is where my story and my path cost with his maybe there is
path cost with his maybe there is
path cost with his maybe there is another way a way to fall back in love
another way a way to fall back in love
another way a way to fall back in love with teaching and a way to provide an
with teaching and a way to provide an
with teaching and a way to provide an education for these children who are
education for these children who are
education for these children who are amongst the most vulnerable in our
amongst the most vulnerable in our
amongst the most vulnerable in our society another way possibly to look at
society another way possibly to look at
society another way possibly to look at the current retention and recruitment
the current retention and recruitment
the current retention and recruitment crisis in education how about we shift
crisis in education how about we shift
crisis in education how about we shift the focus to a humanitarian crisis an
the focus to a humanitarian crisis an
the focus to a humanitarian crisis an unprecedented human tragedy an
unprecedented human tragedy an
unprecedented human tragedy an international disaster then one day I’m
international disaster then one day I’m
international disaster then one day I’m sat there on my site when I receive a
sat there on my site when I receive a
sat there on my site when I receive a call Natalie we both know what you get
call Natalie we both know what you get
call Natalie we both know what you get like when you sell pieces you’re one of
like when you sell pieces you’re one of
like when you sell pieces you’re one of the lucky ones he said come and see for
the lucky ones he said come and see for
the lucky ones he said come and see for yourself he said and so I did I traded
yourself he said and so I did I traded
yourself he said and so I did I traded my stilettos from wellies and off I went
my stilettos from wellies and off I went
my stilettos from wellies and off I went to the refugee camps of northern France
to the refugee camps of northern France
to the refugee camps of northern France the camp that I met him in that we met
the camp that I met him in that we met
the camp that I met him in that we met in no longer exists but it’s where he
in no longer exists but it’s where he
in no longer exists but it’s where he remains it’s sadly duplicated across the
remains it’s sadly duplicated across the
remains it’s sadly duplicated across the whole of our continent in France Belgium
whole of our continent in France Belgium
whole of our continent in France Belgium Greece Macedonia Turkey little children
Greece Macedonia Turkey little children
Greece Macedonia Turkey little children are living in illegal squalor
are living in illegal squalor
are living in illegal squalor the camps are unsanitary uncivilized and
the camps are unsanitary uncivilized and
the camps are unsanitary uncivilized and totally unsafe the icy air stank of
totally unsafe the icy air stank of
totally unsafe the icy air stank of sewage of human excrement and you’d
sewage of human excrement and you’d
sewage of human excrement and you’d tread in it slip in it you’d get it on
tread in it slip in it you’d get it on
tread in it slip in it you’d get it on your clothes and on your hands and they
your clothes and on your hands and they
your clothes and on your hands and they weren’t showers and toilets there was
weren’t showers and toilets there was
weren’t showers and toilets there was very little running water to be truthful
very little running water to be truthful
very little running water to be truthful I remember that camp in Dunkirk a place
I remember that camp in Dunkirk a place
I remember that camp in Dunkirk a place historically synonymous with war and now
historically synonymous with war and now
historically synonymous with war and now it was home to a new generation of
it was home to a new generation of
it was home to a new generation of people who
people who
people who frantically battling and fighting for
frantically battling and fighting for
frantically battling and fighting for the hope of a better life
the hope of a better life
the hope of a better life I remember shivering my nose running my
I remember shivering my nose running my
I remember shivering my nose running my lips painfully cracked I remember
lips painfully cracked I remember
lips painfully cracked I remember teaching lessons whilst gunfire echoed
teaching lessons whilst gunfire echoed
teaching lessons whilst gunfire echoed in the distance whilst the tents next to
in the distance whilst the tents next to
in the distance whilst the tents next to ours went up in flames the air filling
ours went up in flames the air filling
ours went up in flames the air filling with a thick black smoke I’m in but oil
with a thick black smoke I’m in but oil
with a thick black smoke I’m in but oil cans exploding around us in Europe not
cans exploding around us in Europe not
cans exploding around us in Europe not the Europe I grew up in but Europe
the Europe I grew up in but Europe
the Europe I grew up in but Europe nonetheless Europe today and whilst my
nonetheless Europe today and whilst my
nonetheless Europe today and whilst my lucky students at home fail to see how
lucky students at home fail to see how
lucky students at home fail to see how privileged they are to study Shakespeare
privileged they are to study Shakespeare
privileged they are to study Shakespeare or Blake spider-man and his peers were
or Blake spider-man and his peers were
or Blake spider-man and his peers were desperate to learn way more than just
desperate to learn way more than just
desperate to learn way more than just the ten thousand euro price tag they’re
the ten thousand euro price tag they’re
the ten thousand euro price tag they’re being smuggled to are glittering Shores
being smuggled to are glittering Shores
being smuggled to are glittering Shores I thought illness really poorly children
I thought illness really poorly children
I thought illness really poorly children I admit I turned a blind eye at times
I admit I turned a blind eye at times
I admit I turned a blind eye at times sometimes they disappear I don’t know
sometimes they disappear I don’t know
sometimes they disappear I don’t know where without warning we’re out trace I
where without warning we’re out trace I
where without warning we’re out trace I stopped
stopped
stopped double taking at the little ones who’d
double taking at the little ones who’d
double taking at the little ones who’d score and poo outside our school ten and
score and poo outside our school ten and
score and poo outside our school ten and at the well-meaning aid workers who try
at the well-meaning aid workers who try
at the well-meaning aid workers who try and train them the children to use those
and train them the children to use those
and train them the children to use those little plastic bags that we in civilized
little plastic bags that we in civilized
little plastic bags that we in civilized England reserved for our animals dogs
England reserved for our animals dogs
England reserved for our animals dogs yet the unwavering hope of humanity the
yet the unwavering hope of humanity the
yet the unwavering hope of humanity the strength of childhood innocence
strength of childhood innocence
strength of childhood innocence penetrated and sliced through the bitter
penetrated and sliced through the bitter
penetrated and sliced through the bitter reality of that camp in Dunkirk I met
reality of that camp in Dunkirk I met
reality of that camp in Dunkirk I met some of the most beautiful brave and
some of the most beautiful brave and
some of the most beautiful brave and resilient children who I have ever been
resilient children who I have ever been
resilient children who I have ever been blessed to teach little superheroes and
blessed to teach little superheroes and
blessed to teach little superheroes and while our media insights racial disgust
while our media insights racial disgust
while our media insights racial disgust and hatred telling me that he is just
and hatred telling me that he is just
and hatred telling me that he is just one of us warned a sponger a violent
one of us warned a sponger a violent
one of us warned a sponger a violent migrant who needs restraining with angry
migrant who needs restraining with angry
migrant who needs restraining with angry barbed wire fences a little boy who
barbed wire fences a little boy who
barbed wire fences a little boy who without doubt will grow up to be a
without doubt will grow up to be a
without doubt will grow up to be a terrorist I just remember his smile and
terrorist I just remember his smile and
terrorist I just remember his smile and his tinkling laugh his sprinkling of
his tinkling laugh his sprinkling of
his tinkling laugh his sprinkling of mischief
mischief
mischief I remember a precious little boy who’s
I remember a precious little boy who’s
I remember a precious little boy who’s seen things that I hope I never will
seen things that I hope I never will
seen things that I hope I never will a boy who might have made a helicopter
a boy who might have made a helicopter
a boy who might have made a helicopter engineer or pilot in another country
engineer or pilot in another country
engineer or pilot in another country another world another life another time
another world another life another time
another world another life another time he loved those magical flying machines
he loved those magical flying machines
he loved those magical flying machines but passion and fascination education
but passion and fascination education
but passion and fascination education will never be enough to change his life
will never be enough to change his life
will never be enough to change his life he taught a cynical ex teacher a broken
he taught a cynical ex teacher a broken
he taught a cynical ex teacher a broken and battered communicator of me the true
and battered communicator of me the true
and battered communicator of me the true power of education he reminded me of
power of education he reminded me of
power of education he reminded me of what had led me into the profession in
what had led me into the profession in
what had led me into the profession in the first place
the first place
the first place when I was teaching him inspections and
when I was teaching him inspections and
when I was teaching him inspections and marketing policies and data analysis and
marketing policies and data analysis and
marketing policies and data analysis and performance management all paled into
performance management all paled into
performance management all paled into utter insignificance
utter insignificance
utter insignificance I taught him because I wanted to and he
I taught him because I wanted to and he
I taught him because I wanted to and he learned and I loved my job again and
then one day he vanished and I never saw
then one day he vanished and I never saw him again and I wish that I could hold
him again and I wish that I could hold
him again and I wish that I could hold his little broken fingers in my hand
his little broken fingers in my hand
his little broken fingers in my hand once more to watch him quietly tracing
once more to watch him quietly tracing
once more to watch him quietly tracing their alphabet and numbers onto his
their alphabet and numbers onto his
their alphabet and numbers onto his muddy page I wish I could tell him that
muddy page I wish I could tell him that
muddy page I wish I could tell him that he changed the course of my life but he
he changed the course of my life but he
he changed the course of my life but he was the reason that I then eventually
was the reason that I then eventually
was the reason that I then eventually came back into education that’s the
came back into education that’s the
came back into education that’s the change in him for my silent and scared
change in him for my silent and scared
change in him for my silent and scared little boy to a boy who literally
little boy to a boy who literally
little boy to a boy who literally wouldn’t shut up who loved learning
wouldn’t shut up who loved learning
wouldn’t shut up who loved learning inspired me and reminded me why I teach
inspired me and reminded me why I teach
inspired me and reminded me why I teach I’d like to tell him that he featured in
I’d like to tell him that he featured in
I’d like to tell him that he featured in my blog a blogger that then won an award
my blog a blogger that then won an award
my blog a blogger that then won an award truth be told I think because of him
truth be told I think because of him
truth be told I think because of him because people who read it all felt just
because people who read it all felt just
because people who read it all felt just desperately in love with his story he’s
desperately in love with his story he’s
desperately in love with his story he’s counting today
he taught me that behind every headline
he taught me that behind every headline in statistic is a person a child a
in statistic is a person a child a
in statistic is a person a child a student a teacher with a story that a
student a teacher with a story that a
student a teacher with a story that a relationship the gentle touch a kind
relationship the gentle touch a kind
relationship the gentle touch a kind word of reassurance is far more powerful
word of reassurance is far more powerful
word of reassurance is far more powerful a weapon than fear or control so in
a weapon than fear or control so in
a weapon than fear or control so in these times of turmoil in these shifting
these times of turmoil in these shifting
these times of turmoil in these shifting sands of political and educational
sands of political and educational
sands of political and educational change we must remember that education
change we must remember that education
change we must remember that education is the key to a better life for us all
is the key to a better life for us all
is the key to a better life for us all we measure teachers on how well they
we measure teachers on how well they
we measure teachers on how well they choreograph these routines of knowledge
choreograph these routines of knowledge
choreograph these routines of knowledge and recall and knowledge and we call
and recall and knowledge and we call
and recall and knowledge and we call knowledge and Rico and we judge our
knowledge and Rico and we judge our
knowledge and Rico and we judge our student from very little else other than
student from very little else other than
student from very little else other than their exam results but what if instead
their exam results but what if instead
their exam results but what if instead we taught them to measure by the deeds
we taught them to measure by the deeds
we taught them to measure by the deeds that they do the true value lies in how
that they do the true value lies in how
that they do the true value lies in how you treat your fellow man what if we
you treat your fellow man what if we
you treat your fellow man what if we could teach our children in the UK and
could teach our children in the UK and
could teach our children in the UK and Europe and maybe even beyond that’s
Europe and maybe even beyond that’s
Europe and maybe even beyond that’s showing kindness in the face of it
showing kindness in the face of it
showing kindness in the face of it tolerance or ignorant is the way to a
tolerance or ignorant is the way to a
tolerance or ignorant is the way to a better world what if and once they nice
better world what if and once they nice
better world what if and once they nice progressive and traditionalist teachers
progressive and traditionalist teachers
progressive and traditionalist teachers could for once stand united with a
could for once stand united with a
could for once stand united with a collective voice against the fighting
collective voice against the fighting
collective voice against the fighting Venna phobic wings of our time what if I
Venna phobic wings of our time what if I
Venna phobic wings of our time what if I don’t know but what I do know is that
don’t know but what I do know is that
don’t know but what I do know is that sometimes life doesn’t take us where we
sometimes life doesn’t take us where we
sometimes life doesn’t take us where we thought it would but sometimes we walk
thought it would but sometimes we walk
thought it would but sometimes we walk that path in a pair of fantastic heels
that path in a pair of fantastic heels
that path in a pair of fantastic heels and other times we trample through
and other times we trample through
and other times we trample through in our Willy’s but so long as we keep
in our Willy’s but so long as we keep
in our Willy’s but so long as we keep going I figure that’s fine because
going I figure that’s fine because
going I figure that’s fine because without darkness we never appreciate the
without darkness we never appreciate the
without darkness we never appreciate the Sun and there’s very little that helped
Sun and there’s very little that helped
Sun and there’s very little that helped us to value our own lot more than seeing
us to value our own lot more than seeing
us to value our own lot more than seeing humanity at its most desperate I didn’t
humanity at its most desperate I didn’t
humanity at its most desperate I didn’t end up where I thought had been never in
end up where I thought had been never in
end up where I thought had been never in a million years did I think that I’d
a million years did I think that I’d
a million years did I think that I’d tread in the mud of a camp or back into
tread in the mud of a camp or back into
tread in the mud of a camp or back into a classroom or here onto this stage with
a classroom or here onto this stage with
a classroom or here onto this stage with you but each of us has just one thread
you but each of us has just one thread
you but each of us has just one thread of a life and it’s a thread but we sow
of a life and it’s a thread but we sow
of a life and it’s a thread but we sow or if we sow into a tapestry with others
or if we sow into a tapestry with others
or if we sow into a tapestry with others become so much stronger
become so much stronger
become so much stronger I’ve shown my story to spider-man’s any
I’ve shown my story to spider-man’s any
I’ve shown my story to spider-man’s any of our journey can help to rebuild faith
of our journey can help to rebuild faith
of our journey can help to rebuild faith in disillusioned teachers or to build a
in disillusioned teachers or to build a
in disillusioned teachers or to build a brighter future for some of those
brighter future for some of those
brighter future for some of those children that lost generation of
children that lost generation of
children that lost generation of children so desperately in need of
children so desperately in need of
children so desperately in need of education or even do that just for one
education or even do that just for one
education or even do that just for one then I reckon I’d be content with that
then I reckon I’d be content with that
then I reckon I’d be content with that so remember please that out of the mud a
so remember please that out of the mud a
so remember please that out of the mud a lotus of Hope can grow and out of the
lotus of Hope can grow and out of the
lotus of Hope can grow and out of the flames of exploding gas cans a Phoenix
flames of exploding gas cans a Phoenix
flames of exploding gas cans a Phoenix of a teacher can rise and be reborn
of a teacher can rise and be reborn
of a teacher can rise and be reborn education is little more than inspiring
education is little more than inspiring
education is little more than inspiring young children so if you are a teacher
young children so if you are a teacher
young children so if you are a teacher who is feeling like the battle has
who is feeling like the battle has
who is feeling like the battle has nearly been lost
nearly been lost
nearly been lost then please spend your last bit of
then please spend your last bit of
then please spend your last bit of energy looking for your spider-man and
energy looking for your spider-man and
energy looking for your spider-man and if on your travels you happen to see
if on your travels you happen to see
if on your travels you happen to see mine please tell him I’m still searching
mine please tell him I’m still searching
mine please tell him I’m still searching for him that I want just her a twirl and
for him that I want just her a twirl and
for him that I want just her a twirl and spin with him once more to watch him
spin with him once more to watch him
spin with him once more to watch him learn to teach him and I want to thank
learn to teach him and I want to thank
learn to teach him and I want to thank him because I owe him my career thank
him because I owe him my career thank
him because I owe him my career thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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