In this episode of Better Under Pressure, I sit down with Alan Jones, Head Teacher at Fulham Cross Academy in West London. Alan has over 20 years of experience as a teacher, and the last sixteen he's spent as a school leader.

 

I had the pleasure to work with Alan just before the pandemic when he was working at Fulham Cross Girls School, where he invited us to work with the girls on supporting them as they prepared to deal with the pressure of exams.

In our conversation, he talks about the difference between boys' and girls' reactions to dealing with the pressure of exams, anticipating Ofsted and the inexplicable power of an orange tie.

 

Outline

00:00 Intro

01:46 How do you experience pressure now?

03:32 How have you dealt with never-ending pressure?

05:04 How do you recognise a really pressured moment?

06:27 What is your personal strategy for dealing with different types of pressure? 

10:40 What's been the worst pressure for you?

12:40 When do you first remember feeling a sense of pressure?

13:42 Did your experience make you better under pressure?

16:58 Highlight 1: lesson learnt

18:23 What's been your perception of pressure for young women and young men through the educational system? 

22:54 What could we do to help young people manage themselves through the educational system?

27:04 How do you lead staff to deal with pressure?

33:02 What do you actually do when dealing with pressure?

40:39 Pieces of advice from Alan in relation to the way we can all be better under pressure

42:20 Highlight 2: lesson learnt