It's nice to be appreciated by your pupils. This morning I had year sevens followed by year elevens, two classes that I really enjoy teaching though obviously have very different relationships with.

One of my year sevens asked if they'd be having me again next year. Normally the subtext of this is 'I bloody hope not', but when I said that it was unlikely the class let out a collective disappointed groan. The fact I'd just given out merits to everyone probably swung the vote on this occasion. They know they can get away with the occasional joke with me - such as one boy who kept telling me I'd missed a spot, several times over, when I was wiping the board - but they get the work done and I don't see any harm with having a laugh along the way.

In my year eleven class one of my pupils said to me 'You're really quite popular sir. People take the piss sometimes but we all like you.' I think it's a compliment though I wouldn't want to sacrifice respect for the sake of being liked. I'm not concerned about popularity but having said that I'm not going to turn it away if it comes.