That’s it. As the meerkats say ‘simples’. If I catch every student doing something well, and reward them, then they do more of it. And it rubs off on the others. If I don’t believe in them, then they soon switch off. Does that sound like rocket science? No it doesn’t. But I’d like to see Brian Cox, Einstein and Steven Hawking get together and teach my year nine on a Friday afternoon! And no, it is not simply a positive outlook.

The trick is to work out what the secrets are to being a brilliant learner. Then, let your students into that little secret and be relentlessly consistent in spotting them doing ‘good things’. Don’t change what you teach but notice the students who persevere, ask for help or help someone else and praise them. Whatever you pay attention to, you will get more of. Put like that it sounds easy.