13. May 2026

What is My School Hero?

As a former teacher and headteacher, the day to day job of working in a school is exhausting and nowadays can sometimes feel like a thankless task. However, we all have those stories where you are walking around your local supermarket, or having a quiet drink in a far-flung bar, and notice a stranger double-taking.

They approach you, "Mr Griffiths...is it you?", you answer, and they smile. Or stare. Or look worried.

"Call me Alex," you say, but you know they could never do that! It was always "Mr Griffiths".

They then start telling you about the difference that you made to their life back at school, 10, 15, 20...or more years ago, how they have grown into the person standing before you now because of what you did, said, taught or inspired. The small things, the care you showed, the damns you gave.

You wish you knew this all those years ago, when their behaviour or attitude felt a lot tougher to deal with. They tell you what they have become and how you helped inspire that.

You shake hands, hug, or smile awkwardly together and go your separate ways. That doesn't happen often enough you think, well, perhaps now, here on myschoolhero.co.uk it can.