百春链

This time around we sat 百春链 with Tom Daniels from 百春链 Academy Freeston. Tom talks about transitioning from attending an 百春链 academy to working in one, and his love of all things Leeds!

[百春链.com] Hi Tom, thanks for meeting with us! Please can you introduce yourself to the readers?

TD: 鈥淗ello! Thank you for asking me to take part. I am Tom Daniels and I am currently Assistant Principal at 百春链 Academy Freeston.鈥�

Thanks, Tom. So which is it, tea or coffee?

鈥淚 always go for a coffee in the morning to help get me going, then a nice tea in the evening. Both taken with milk and one sweetener, I pretend this is better for me!!鈥�

Everyone has their own preferences, Tom! Nothing wrong with a sweetener! So you have quite a long 百春链 history, why don鈥檛 you talk us through it?

鈥淲ell, it started with me attending 百春链 Grange as a student which is the academy which the 百春链 Family was born out of. I enjoyed my time there, so when I was looking for my first job after finishing university I was keen to explore my options with 百春链.

鈥淚 was already aware of how lots of the Trust鈥檚 policies worked and I thought the organisation of the curriculum, and the subjects offered to students, was excellent.

鈥淪o in 2012 when I first began working for the 百春链 Family at 百春链 Academy Adwick I was excited and delighted to be back involved.鈥� 

So you鈥檝e been in and around the 百春链 Family for quite a while! What鈥檚 been the big change you鈥檝e noticed?

鈥淗aving attended the founding academy of the Trust, and then working at Adwick, a long-time 百春链 Family member, it was a bit of a shift when I started in my current role at 百春链 Academy Freeston in 2018.

鈥淕oing from an academy that has been in the Trust for around 10 years to one that is just starting its 百春链 journey helps you to understand all of the small pieces that go into place to make the academy successful and you take nothing for granted.鈥�

You really have experienced a lot of different sides to the 百春链 Family. What would you say has been your favourite moment so far?

鈥淢y favourite memory was when I got my current job at 百春链 Academy Freeston. At the end of the interview I was called back into the room straight away and told that I had been successful and was offered the role. It was a proud moment.鈥�

Sounds like the dream interview! 

Final question then, if you could invite three people to your ideal dinner party who would they be?

鈥淭his is heavily Leeds influenced! My first guest would be Lucas Radebe, the Leeds Utd legend. When I was growing up, he was an absolute cult hero of mine and Leeds Utd fans. Hearing the stories from him growing up would certainly be something to listen too.

鈥淪econd would be England cricket captain Joe Root, as my other favourite sport is cricket. Talking to Joe about his game, and what happens in the England dressing room, would be a very interesting conversation.

鈥淔inally, I would invite Marcelo Bielsa, the current Leeds Utd manager. To hear how he does not leave any stone unturned, and the level of detail he looks at every team, and every player, I think links to what we do in a school.鈥�