Kevin Edward Turner

12/10/20

General

Kevin Turner was a pupil at the school I led in Partington.

His mother moved herself and the three children into a Council house on the Wood Lane Estate cos they lived in fear.

I secured a week’s residence from the Northern Ballet Theatre Company and they saw Kevin perform. I was there and he was amazing. He had choreographed Bruce Lee fight scenes with his brother and they were incredible intricate.

Realising Kevin was talented I offered him free places on dance courses that I ran at Lower park having moved headship. In the meantime I had spoken to Lynda Coles, Trafford’s Dance Coordinator and arranged for him to attend Trafford Youth dance.

Lynda would pick him up from school, give him his tea and return him at around 8.30pm. She did this cos she knew the family did not have the funds to support Kevin.

The story is picked up in Kevin’s TEDX talk at Univ of Lancaster. If you watch from 13 mins you will see how we met up again and achieved one of the best bits of creative work I’ve been involved in.

A kid from Partington, 1st class honours degree, toured the world, coped with bipolar, runs a very successful dance company and now a TED talk. Amazing.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Comments from former HMI to Ofsted’s response to Education Select Committee Report

by Frank Norris | Mar 13, 2024

Following the publication of Ofsted’s formal response to the Education Select Committee’s report on its work the group of former HMI who submitted evidence to the committee wish to make the following statement ‘‘We are saddened in what purports to be for Ofsted, a new...

Introductory piece for the FED conference on rural, small and coastal schools

by Frank Norris | Mar 13, 2024

I started teaching in 1979. I can remember distinctly the primary school hall filled with buckets when it rained. I certainly recall the 48 children I taught in what was Junior 4 but is now Year 6. I also recall never seeing the headteacher at all, or another senior manager see me teach during my first year.

Induction isn’t quite what it used to be

by Frank Norris | Dec 4, 2023

I am writing this open letter as a way of thanking those of you who supported, encouraged and challenged me during my induction period with the inspectorate. I didn’t realise at the time how effective it was and how it invaluable it was in enabling me to better understand the breadth and variety of education provision.