Dame Alison Peacock – The People Who Made Me
The chief executive of the Chartered College of Teaching shares her list of personal heroes
Each issue Teach Primary asks one amazing teacher: ‘Who’s changed your life?’.
Here, the chief executive of the Chartered College of Teaching shares her list of personal heroes.
Pat Mann
Mother
My amazing mother was my first inspiration in teaching. She was head of a successful village school. I’ve inherited her boundless energy and love of justice and equity.
Annabelle Dixon
Citizenship champion I had the privilege of visiting Annabelle’s treasure trove of a classroom on several occasions. She was uncompromisingly inclusive of every child. When she retired, I became the owner of some of her classroom irresistibles, including a horse’s skull with bullet hole.
Claudia
Pupil I taught Claudia when she was seven. She had profound special educational needs and could only speak a few words. However, she had the most wonderful laugh and joyful spirit. Working one-to-one with Claudia taught me that who we are is so much more important than attainment.
Mary Jane Drummond
Early years inspiration When studying for my Masters, Mary Jane taught me about the vital importance of early years teaching that values childhood, resisting labels and ‘finding a way through’ for every child.
Tessa Moss
Mentor and friend Tessa was my headteacher when I was a deputy. She travelled with me on an educational visit to Canada, taught my daughters and gave me the freedom to develop ‘learning without limits’ pedagogy in my classroom. We also laughed a lot.
Professor Michael Fielding
Radical thinker Michael taught me the importance of professional courage. He embodies kindness, encouragement and democracy and showed me the importance of daring to be radical.
Professor Robin Alexander
Teaching leader
Working for Robin, I learnt the skills of presenting to teachers, seeking to balance storytelling from my school with information about the Cambridge Primary Review, while reminding teachers why they wanted to join the profession.
Keith Andrew
Former colleague
As site manager at Wroxham School, Keith cheerfully brought vision to reality when I said I wanted to buy a boat for the playground, convert a bus into a library and create a Celtic roundhouse.
Julie Lilly
Partner in crime
Julie has been the driving organisational energy behind Saturday Beyond Levels free events for teachers. The generosity of teacher collaboration at these events provides the impetus for my vision for the Chartered College of Teaching. TP
Dame Alison Peacock is chief executive of the Chartered College of Teaching – a new professional membership body for teachers and school leaders.
