Jake’s #frideday feature

- what’s your current teaching position/subject?

Teacher of Geography & Politics at Leventhorpe School

- what’s your current focus in education?

My MEd thesis critically explored the so-called 'Fundamental British Values', arguing that values cannot simply be taught and must be individually and freely adopted by students. This led me to advocate for discursive or dialogic approaches to character/citizenship education within geography education. Other areas of interest include education policy, widening participation within higher education and social mobility.

- how does riding help you?

Since growing up riding to me is all about the freedom of exploring new places on two wheels. Whilst my daily commute is rather predictable, riding remains an important way for me to explore new places and my personal limits. Riding helps me stay active and in terms of transport geography, I appreciate how cycling has reduced car dependency and air pollution in my local area as well as outside our school. Fundamentally, riding has the power to help many more people than just an individual and that's always brought to me a sense of satisfaction.

- why did you apply to be an ambassador/what would you like to do as an ambassador?

I think standing up and representing the things you're passionate about is important, and for me trying to organise meet-ups and starting conversations with colleagues about how to make cycling more accessible and appealing to them has been a big part of what I hope to achieve as an ambassador.

Looking to the future, I'd like to support members in advocating for better facilities and support from their workplaces (such as dedicated changing facilities or the Cycle2Work Scheme), perhaps by producing templates. Similarly, as a politics teacher I'd be keen to support members in lobbying their local authorities and elected representatives to increase the amount of funding towards active travel and cycling infrastructure so more of our colleagues can feel confident and safe should they decide to cycle to work (or just in their spare time).

I also look forward to representing Teacher CC at some wider cycling events like Paria Paperboy 8.0 in Leeds next month as well as some of the critical mass rides in London.

- what do you think is special about TCC?

Teacher CC is more than a cycling club, it is a cycling community! Much more than that, we're a community of educators with a real opportunity to build a grassroots movement. TCC is special because hopefully members feel supported (as I have) and emboldened to not seek permission to put a passion like cycling on the same footing as your career. TCC promotes healthy habits to support teachers' wellbeing and brings with it benefits through membership.

- what are your current bike(s) and dream bike:

I am really guilty here of falling foul of the n + 1 rule :') so here goes...

- Carrera Virtuoso road bike

- Dahon Vitesse folding bicycle

- Bamboo Bicycle Club road bike (currently in need of a rebuild)

- Breezer Doppler Café+ gravel/bikepacking rig

Dream Bike - in our local bike shop (Lee Valley Cycles) there is a vintage tandem bicycle donated by the legendary Vin Denson (also from Harlow). My dream would be to buy that piece of local history and donate it to the amazing bicycle collection at Harlow Museum (although then I wouldn't be able to ride it, so perhaps I'd keep it for myself :P).

- what’s your best cycling achievement or memory?

Cycling across the country, from Harlow to Morcombe & Harlow to Machyncllth (and back). I really have grown to love bikepacking and touring so these long-distance trips stick in my mind as some of my favourite memories whilst cruising on two wheels. It's a combination of the scenery, meeting and getting to know strangers, camping outdoors and picking up on the little peculiarities which make each part of the UK quite unique. And of course, when you reach the place/person/destination you've embarked on cycling to - it really is satisfying.

- what’s your best teaching achievement or memory?

This year our school had our first-ever Cambridge offer-holder for Geography, and whilst that success very much belongs to the talented student who secured their offer, I did deliver a few 1-to-1 coaching/mentoring sessions and supportive emails back and forth before their interview. Moments like this for me because of my own experience with university, being the first person in my family to go, and cemented my belief that Universities like Cambridge don't remain unassailable. Social mobility and widening participation are two vital pillars of teaching for me, so this has been a highlight of my career so far (less than 4 years in).

- do you have a golden tip for teaching and/or cycling?

Much of the advice I give to students I'd give to myself when it comes to teaching/cycling. Not giving up, staying the course, leading with your best foot forward - and finding what makes you tick. If I were to hone in on the cycling aspects, I suppose I would add never be afraid to upskill yourself or ask your bike mechanic how they go about fixing that - in my experience, they're always keen to teach a skill and I am always in awe of how easy they make it all look! In a nutshell, refine that spirit of self-sufficiency and independence which both teaching and cycling really lend themselves to.