Gareth Morris, head teacher of Flash Ley Primary School in Staffordshire, openly says that as a youngster he was “not desperately into school” and “didn’t turn up much either”. It is his experience of primary and secondary education that has helped shape his own approach to teaching and inspiring youngsters.
“First and foremost, teaching is about mutual respect,” says the father of two. “It is also about making sure the curriculum is exciting and interesting. It’s about having a level of connection between lessons so there are elements that link from one subject to another.
“We have also adopted the mantra of ‘believe to achieve’. Yes, we want academic excellence, but we want children to have an indomitable belief in themselves. It’s about respect, aspiration and interest – and getting children involved in the learning and getting teachers to make the most of their talents and being confident in their abilities.”
This philosophy contrasts with his experience of school, when after gaining four GCSEs he couldn’t wait to join the Army. His military career, though, was brought to an abrupt end when he suffered a knee injury. It was at that point he realised he needed qualifications or face the prospect of a lifetime working in dead-end jobs. He studied A Levels in History and English before going to Staffordshire University where he studied history and international relations.
Next he gained a PGCE teaching qualification, and then took a year out to study GCSE maths. While studying, he also earned “a stack of cash” in a sales job but felt unfulfilled and wanted to do something more worthwhile. I was then that he spotted a job as a teaching assistant and found his calling.
In the meantime, Gareth was also commissioned as an officer at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and later became a Lieutenant in the Territorial Army. In 2004, he was faced with the tough choice between his teaching and Army careers when he was called up to serve in Basra.
Gareth said: “I resigned my commission, because being a teacher isn’t the sort of job that you can go away and leave for nine months. I did want to go because I was an infantry officer and most of my platoon was going out there. In the end realised it would have got in the way of my teaching career, so decided to stay.”
Having chosen his vocation, Gareth worked his way up the ranks to become a deputy head at a school in Cheshire before moving back to his native Staffordshire in September last year. On top of his heavy workload, including preparing for two Ofsted inspections, Gareth has studied three modules for his Open University Master of Education (Leadership and Management), as well as his National Qualification for Headship (NPQH) professional qualification.
“As one of the youngest heads in the country, I have found it is experience rather than age that is important,” he says. “I have come in and got seven years’ experience in a range of environments and didn’t have any pre-conceived notions about how education was. All can see is how it should be. It can be quite peculiar sitting at meetings with other heads who are 10 or 15 years older than me, but it is important that they see me for the professional I am rather than how old am.”
Update - It is now four years since Gareth became head teacher. He is currently still in the postion at Flash Ley Primary School.
