Decades ago, as a Head of Year, a file came across my desk concerning a young man I will refer to as ‘David’. He was slightly deaf, had a speech impediment, and some eyesight difficulties. Social Services wanted to move David from special school into mainstream education. His file told me that David had seen the deaths of both his parents, both his step parents and witnessed his sister fall down their cellar steps, miscarrying her baby in front of him. The more I read, the more my soul reached out to this 13 year old.

On meeting, he was a red–haired young man of fiery disposition. We struck up a genuine rapport but after an uneasy start, came complaints of rudeness, swearing at staff, temper tantrums, anti-social behaviour and worse. What could be done? I was determined to keep him.

Supportive colleagues, perhaps believing in me as well as David, embraced my suggested plan that he work alongside them. These days it’s entitled flexible learning. In the 1970s it was simply common sense! So a special timetable was created for David. Drama and English with me, Art, Rural Science and Sport. He ran well! All other troublesome subjects, and teachers, were jettisoned.

He had a preference for drama. Creative improvisations became his world, and his progression in confidence, social integration and most significantly an awareness of others was truly outstanding. His fellow students loved him to bits.

He had some lines in a school production of ‘ Oh What a Lovely War’. A line beginning with the letter ‘S’ became a problem for him in rehearsals and prompted his stutter. Come first night his fellow actors were told not to let him suffer but to jump straight in and keep up the continuation of the play. Imagine the complete astonishment of all when ‘Sergeant’ rang out crystal clear. Everyone on stage was stopped in their tracks.

He developed in to a splendid young man and became a frequent visitor to my home until life sadly and inevitably drew us apart. I don’t know what life has held for that astonishing young man, or where he is. He simply drifted out of my life. Maybe that’s how he planned it?