Pete’s #frideday feature

- what’s your current teaching position/subject?

I’m the lead teacher of music at a large high school in Norfolk.

- what’s your current focus in education?

My current focus is helping close the gap between KS3 and KS4 music. The drop out between 3-4 is enormous (around 95%) and I’m working on ways of helping students to continue their musical journey beyond the end of Yr9.

- how does riding help you?

I think I ride for my head as much as my legs. I have a fairly busy life but when I go for a ride I don’t need to be anywhere  or do anything other than push the pedal round.

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

In my role as an ambassador, I’d like to encourage others to get the joy out of cycling I do. We go out in a small group from school once a half term and I’d like to expand the group rides beyond my school to the wider teaching community in Norfolk.

- what do you think is special about TCC?

I am fortunate to lead an amazing team but even so teaching can lend itself to being quite a lonely profession at times. TCC can make a real difference to reduce the isolation teachers (and support staff) might feel.

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

I primarily ride a Holdsworth Mystique gravel bike but have also got an old school Cannondale mtb. I’m in the process of restoring the Specialized Rockhopper I built when I was 17.

I’d love a Rodeo Labs Trail Donkey or something custom by Rob English.

- what’s your best cycling achievement or memory?

I have fallen pretty hard for bike packing and gravel riding so definitely riding Old Chalk Way last spring. 600km from Lyme Regis to Holme on the Norfolk coast.

- what’s your best teaching achievement or memory?

Teaching wise, we hire Norwich Arts Centre every year for a gig night. It’s a huge amount of work but watching students come alive performing on stage never gets old. I know I am helping them form feelings and memories that will last a lifetime.

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

Teaching: don’t just teach to your lived  experience, always look for the next opportunity to learn and grow.

Riding: short or long, fast or slow just ride.