Bob Twells

Bob left school with one O-Level at grade 6 (honestly!) and promptly joined the Royal Air Force. During his eight-year career, he educated himself, represented the RAF at Modern Pentathlon at the British Championships, worked on Hercules Transporters and Vulcan Bombers and was awarded an Air Officer’s Commendation for meritorious service in conjunction with the New Year’s Honours List - 1st January 1977.

Whilst studying at Kingston Polytechnic, Bob was awarded the Brigadier STA Memorial prize for the attainment and best all-around performance by a mature student at the college. He then went on to enjoy a 30-year career in schools, spending twenty years as a Headteacher.

Under his leadership, Bob’s first school won Surrey School of the Year and he finished his career with another of his schools named in the top 100 primary schools in the country. He won South East Region Headteacher of the Year in the National Teaching awards 2000 and has been a National judge for the same body since 2008. But when asked about his career, he always proudly explains that his most significant success was creating schools where staff felt energised, optimistic and trusted; where the school was at the heart of the community and where relationships across the school flourished.

Bob is married to Gill (who works in a secondary school) and the children, India, Georgia and Guy have long since left home, and all are now leading independent lives.

Bob currently works as a teacher recruiter and thoroughly enjoys coaching and working with the next generation of educators. He also works alongside Dave as a trainer in a variety of areas; a role he finds immensely satisfying and tremendous fun, especially in the field of Behaviour Management. While working together, Bob and Dave have spent many an hour discussing and chatting through education. It is during this time that the idea for this book was born.