Sometimes in teaching, no matter how hard you try, everything comes unravelled. You lurch from one disaster to another. Windows get smashed, things get set on fire, pupils swear at you and your colleagues start to look down on you - or even worse - pity you. Your lessons are rated as 'inadequate' and you want to cry.

On other occasions everything you touch turns to gold. Form tutors thank you for writing good PINs (Pupil Information Notes) about their pupils, your year tens get great exam results and that lovely English NQT seems keener than ever to sit with you during briefing.

As if that weren't enough your head of department observes you teaching an 'outstanding' lesson on Friday morning.

At the moment I'm on cloud nine - there's so many tough moments in teaching that you've got to enjoy the good ones. But I'm also wary that pride comes before a fall so will have to knuckle down and work hard this weekend. Or wrap myself in bubble-wrap so it won't hurt as much.

It's nice word though: outstanding.