The 2004 Secondary School Teacher of the Year, Philip Beadle, is a highly creative teacher of English and Drama. Late to teaching, Philip draws inspiration from his former life working in a bank by day and singing in a rock band by night, and connects with pupils by using visual, audio and kinetic stimulus material in unique ways. We observe two lessons where the climate for learning is infectious. In the first, a class of Year 9 boys is at risk of underachievement. Philip invents an entertaining lesson format called 'argument tennis', in which we see the pupils engage in debate about the motives behind Macbeth's behaviour. In the second lesson Philip teaches GCSE poetry, using a combination of visual and audio material to engage the class's emotions and serve as the stimulus for their own poetry. Philip's results are exceptional, in the past three years his pupils have averaged 98% A-Cs, despite the school only recently having emerged from special measures.

Video Series: Inspirations
Release Date 2005