Inspired but Tired: Two Weeks of Real Impact – The last two weeks have been full on — early mornings, long drives, assemblies, deep conversations, podcasts, and a whole lot of impact. These are the moments that remind me why I started Dreams 2 Reality in the first place: to help young people believe in themselves and to give schools the tools, energy, and mindset to bring that belief to life.
We kicked things off in Peterborough, working with both Year 10s and Year 11s at City of Peterborough Academy before finishing the day with parents. This school is one I’ve been connected with for years, and every time I return, it feels stronger — the students are switched on, the culture is consistent, and the leadership is exceptional. Huge credit to Nicola Treacy and the team for continuing to drive standards and ambition every single year.
From there it was up north to Sheffield to deliver at Firth Park Academy — a school I absolutely love. There’s a reason I keep going back. Nigel Whittle and his team are building something special. The students are sharp, funny, and honest — and that honesty is exactly what makes the sessions powerful. I always say this: motivation isn’t about shouting louder, it’s about connecting deeper.
Then we moved on to West Walsall E-ACT Academy for the continuation of the Power Programme. I’ve been working closely with Laura Wilson and her staff, and it’s been amazing to see how much the students have grown since the first session. Day 2 is when things start to click — you see the shift in confidence, communication, and self-belief. It’s not just motivation; it’s transformation through consistent exposure and reflection.
Over in the south, we also launched the Power Programme at The Corsham School 🔥 And this one meant a lot — because we’ve now been working with this school for 10 years. Yes, 10 years! That kind of partnership doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built on trust, shared vision, and proven results. Huge thank you to Rod Bell and Christopher Smith for continuing to believe in what we do and for giving their students access to the full Power Programme experience.
From Hood ➝ Headship 📚
Tuesday was another standout day. I spoke to the Year 10s at Rooks Heath School — an incredible year group with big energy and even bigger dreams — and then sat down with Headteacher Miriam Manderson for a brand-new episode of The School Podcast.
Her story, From Hood to Headship, is raw, emotional, and powerful — living proof that where you start doesn’t define where you finish. She’s breaking stereotypes, raising standards, and showing students that success isn’t about perfection, it’s about perseverance. That conversation will stay with me for a long time.
The Education Forum & EdTech Forum 🎙️
After that, it was straight into two huge events — the Education Forum and the Education Technology Forum — and what a ride it was.
We kicked things off with a live School Podcast recording featuring the incredible Diana Osagie. The energy was electric — plenty of laughs, real talk, and valuable insights that every school leader could take away.
Finally got to meet Adrian Rogers in person — and yes, I managed to twist his arm into recording an episode too. His wisdom on leadership and culture is unreal; can’t wait to share that one.
Then came an inspiring chat with Nadine Bernard — diving deep into headship, representation, and the powerful work her Aspiring Heads network is doing. On top of that, we recorded two compl
etely unplanned, raw conversations with Theresa Allotey and Omar Al Hashimi — no prep, just authentic insight from people who live and breathe education.
One of the highlights was catching up with my friend and mentor Trystan Williams — someone whose advice and belief have guided me more than he probably realises. And a massive thank-you to Dave Inglis — without him, The School Podcast simply wouldn’t exist. It’s amazing to see his behind-the-scenes work finally getting the spotlight it deserves.
And of course, a big shoutout to Natasha Cobbold and the entire Education Forum team for pulling everything together so seamlessly. Events like this remind me how strong and passionate the education community really is.
Two weeks, hundreds of students, multiple schools, countless conversations — and thousands of moments that matter.
From classrooms to conference stages, from hood to headship — it’s all part of one mission: helping the next generation turn their dreams into reality.
Yes, I’ll finish inspired but tired… but that’s exactly how it should be. 💪🏻
#Dreams2Reality #PowerProgramme #TheSchoolPodcast #ImpactOverEverything #MotivationalSpeaker #EducationMatters
