Seasoned professionals who try their hands at teaching

Charles Runacres
Dr Runacres, a former director of learning at Cheltenham College is a trainee teacher

Joanne Crossley, 47, joined Teach First, a Teacher Training Institute, last year after a career as a barrister.  She now teaches at a primary school in Bradford.

“It’s harder than anything else I’ve ever done in my life,” she said. 

“Whatever their reputation, no Court of Appeal judge has ever thrown highlighters at me or rejected my submissions by shouting, ‘You’re s***, miss.’ ”

Dr Runacres, 60, was a former director of learning at Cheltenham College.   He was the oldest trainee teacher to start a programme run by Teach First, which sends recruits into schools after a few weeks. He is now teaching English in west London after a career spent in school management.

Joanne Crossley

Hear Dr Runacres:
 ''I asked myself whether it would be possible to keep up with younger teachers who probably don’t have to go to bed by 10pm, can hold out for a whole double lesson and have heard of Love Island”.
“Standing in a classroom in the midst of a successful lesson is one of the best feelings you can have. The satisfaction of helping a pupil across an academic hurdle is extraordinary,” he said. “It’s a wonderful thing to do at any age.”

He acknowledged that teaching was challenging. “It is also hugely demanding of time, energy, patience, knowledge, courage and, let’s face it, finances. It’s not something to slip into if other things aren’t going well, and it’s no fun when it’s not going right.

“Schools are physically draining, full of noise and movement and standing on your feet for hours until you can control classes well enough to teach sitting on the edge of desks.

“Days are long. Contributing beyond the classroom is vital to success as a teacher, and the pressure to do so is ever-present.”