Surviving at Chalvedon

Having failed to escape from Chalvedon in 1976 I started to understand how to teach in difficult circumstances. The students varied hugely, from some who were keen to work and came from supportive homes to others who hated school and, by default, all teachers. I developed techniques to control an unruly class; I learned how to ensure that the pens, pencils and other equipment we were obliged to lend came back (something, anything, worth more than the item, had to be given as a deposit); I developed improved teaching techniques, mostly through the use of very good resources; and I learned the importance of exuding confidence.

Gradually I came to like and respect the rougher kids. The photo shows my registration class, some of whom, like the crew-cut lad at the centre of the back row, were a challenge. I even took them ice-skating in London a couple of times, and they were great evenings out.

Survival also depended on the support of one's colleagues. When Mark, who was head of the geography and geology department when I arrived, left Chalvedon, I applied for and got the post. While others taught with us, the core team was Brian, second in department, left, Dave, centre, and Chris, kneeling. At the end of stressful days we went down the pub, drank too much, and arrived home late. At the end of each year we had a department dinner, which was when this picture was taken, either at a restaurant or, increasingly, at one of our homes - this one was at Fountain Lane.

We worked hard. As our confidence increased, we became more ambitious. We took the whole third year, all 200+ of them, to London for a cruise up and down the Thames. More and more of the students opted to take geography in fourth and fifth year. We took our fourth year geographers to Hastings for a three-night field trip staying in a Youth Hostel, while our 'O' and 'A' level geology students went on extended trips to places like Bridport and Shropshire.

When Katy joined Lizzie at primary school, Gill also taught at Chalvedon. We made many very good friends amongst the staff, many of whom worked extremely hard for these students. Some, like Derek (at right) and Fred (centre), gave their time to ensuring that young people who were often seriously deprived saw a different side of life. This picture was taken at a camp in Suffolk organised by Derek, where the young people went canoeing, tried their hand at archery, slept in freezing tents, and let their hair down at Great Yarmouth fun fair. It was so laid back that Lizzie, Katy and Gill came too - Gill is at the back, left.

I continued to be the school representative for my union, the NAS/UWT. Its membership steadily increased. We took industrial action to try to combat work overload by working a four-day week. It didn't make much difference, and teachers remained poorly paid.

I think I might have stayed at Chalvedon for years had not Gill, very gently, started to encourage me to apply for jobs elsewhere.