How many years did you teach at Hymers College and when?

I was at Hymers for exactly seven years, from January 2011 to December 2017.

What was your role at Hymers College?

I was Deputy Head (Management)

What are your favourite memories of teaching at Hymers?

I'm sure I won't be the only teacher to say this, but the students at Hymers were amongst some of the best I've ever known - quietly confident, respectful, ambitious, open and honest.

I also think that the staff went well, well beyond the extra mile for the students and for the school - I certainly wouldn't have been able to do my job very well without the support of my colleagues.

Do you have any favourite stories?

Many things stick in my mind, but I'm not sure many of them can be published! Not necessarily for the right reasons, Year 13s last day before Study Leave has stuck with me, and I remember many times pulling that day forward a bit to try to catch them out. Over the years, they tried all sorts - releasing chickens, stringing bras up around the Hall, attaching personal alarms to helium balloons and releasing them in the Hall. I did tend to have a sense of humour failure, but I did end up with a very large collection of water pistols!

I also remember some brilliant musical and drama performances. Oliver, which must have been in about 2017, was fantastic, and there were also so many talented musicians - many students and staff might recall Sushant Achawal, OH 2008-15, wowing us with his sitar, for example.

If you hadn't been a teacher, what would you have done instead?

Yikes, I can't imagine doing anything else; it's the best job in the world. Professional footballer or rock star were probably always out of reach, and I could have easily ended up as a boring accountant.

What have you done since you left Hymers College?

I became the Headmaster at Wellingborough School in Northamptonshire, and in September 2025, I'm moving to Nottingham High School to be the Head there.

I still keep in touch with a few people from Hymers, and have very fond memories of my time in Hull.