Meet Mr Harkness: Teacher, Author and Nominee for Outstanding Commitment to Students Award
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Recently nominated for an Outstanding Commitment to Students Award in the Eastern Daily Press, Mr Harkness at Cromer Academy is Lead Teacher at the Specialist Resource Base, we caught up with him after the awards ceremony to learn more about his role at Cromer Academy, his recent books and the ceremony itself.
What inspired you to go into teaching?
I had a difficult time at school, due to a combination of factors, however, there were three teachers who supported me through some difficult times and/or didn’t give up on me. I was inspired by them to support young people how they had supported me. One of those teachers is, Iain Mackintosh, the head of inclusion at Inspiration Trust. He was my head of year in year 11.
What is it like working at Cromer Academy?
Cromer Academy is unique. It retains a community-focused authenticity that I don’t often feel at other schools. Staff and students alike, are incredibly lucky to live and work in such a beautiful and historical place.
Could you describe the Specialist Resource Base for someone who might not understand what its role is in the school?
The SRB is a 20-placement, additional provision for pupils from across Norfolk who are experiencing difficulties with accessing mainstream education due to communication and interaction difficulties. SRB places are allocated by the local authority. We have a very strong community ethos in the base and an exceptional team of staff. It's a privilege to work with both the staff and students every day.
How does the SRB support students at Cromer Academy?
SRB pupils are supported to enable them to attend up to 100% of their mainstream lessons, through flexible timetabling and curriculum adaptation, tailored to individual needs. We also provide social and emotional interventions, a designated teaching space, and a place of sanctuary during unstructured times.
I understand that in your spare time you are also an author with a recently released second book, could you tell us a little about your books?
The most recent book, Inside/Outside, is based on an emotional literacy programme I wrote several years ago, and I then combined it with my love of the outdoors, to create a resource that can support teachers to connect young people with nature alongside exploring mental health and wellbeing. I’m very proud of it. My first book, Bird Therapy, is a culmination of years of blogging about the mental health benefits of birdwatching, in conjunction with charting my own recovery post-breakdown.
How did you feel when you found out you were nominated for the Outstanding Commitment to Students award?
Humbled, happy and honoured to work with such an amazing team in the Specialist Resource Base.
What was the atmosphere like on the evening of the ceremony? Did you get to learn from other teachers about their schools?
There was a celebratory atmosphere all round. I was too anxious to engage with anyone other than my wife, but I learnt about schools from the overviews given. The recognition for the Clare School was wonderful and richly deserved.
Congratulations to Mr Harkness on his nomination for Outstanding Commitment to Students, this recognition is well deserved for all the hard work and effort he has applied in the Specialist Resource Base.
You can purchase his book Inside/Outside at the link below:
