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Original poster

If you work in education has any child gone on to be famous or notorious?

293 replies

SpecialKCat · 27/03/2023 18:34

Having a chat with a colleague today and she said that a child we taught she thought would be a famous footballer when older.

I just wondered if anyone, who works in education, has taught a child who went on to become famous or notorious?

OP posts:
RedCarsGoFaster · 27/03/2023 18:35

My parent taught Helen Glover - the Olympian.

listsandbudgets · 27/03/2023 18:37

My mother was Imelda Stauntons English and drama teacher

Nimbostratus100 · 27/03/2023 18:37

Many sports men and women - including Olympians

One inventor of a household object

One politician ( labour)

One scientist very well known in their own field

Several Jeremy Kyle guests

Many criminals, some of who's names you might recognise

Newuser82 · 27/03/2023 18:39

I know someone who taught a notorious murderer.

spanieleyes · 27/03/2023 18:59

I taught a double murderer.

KnittingNeedles · 27/03/2023 19:01

My dad was a PE teacher and taught several pupils who went on to represent their country in various sports.

Multiblue · 27/03/2023 19:04

Sadly we've had a quite a few who've been in the news and a couple in prison for murder.

However, we do also get calls occasionally from ex students who had been completely written off by mainstream schools, thanking us for "saving their life", the most recent being one who'd just graduated from a really good University after being excluded from school at 14.

Quite often an ex student arrives employed by a company we're using eg IT support or alarm servicing etc and that's lovely.

Twizbe · 27/03/2023 19:08

My mum used to teach Catherine Zeta Jones. Didn't teach her for long as she was away a lot being in Annie. Apparently she had drawn stars around the Zeta on her maths book.

MadeInChorley · 27/03/2023 19:09

My mum taught two members of a very famous rock band. She has a soft spot for them and loves watching Glastonbury to see them perform (“such NICE boys!”) and exclaiming at their tattoos. Also, she taught a household name actor (lead in a huge BBC prime time drama that got rave reviews and films). She also taught a notorious gang land murderer, part of a known crime family, and an Isis bride.

PonyPatter44 · 27/03/2023 19:10

I taught in a Cat A prison, so have taught quite a few "famous" (infamous) criminals!

clarepetal · 27/03/2023 19:10

Newuser82 · 27/03/2023 18:39

I know someone who taught a notorious murderer.

And what were they like as a student?

Longdistance · 27/03/2023 19:15

I was a college student at an infants school on placement back in 1994. There was one kid that looked really miserable and serious, you could never get a smile out of him. He’s notorious for currently in a Romanian prison with equally odious brother.

bigbluebus · 27/03/2023 19:16

I was at school with someone whose father had taught Cliff Richard.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 27/03/2023 19:19

One famous footballer.

One reality show formed boyband member.

And one lovely, but not very bright, girl who went to prison, as did her partner as neither would disclose who was to blame for their baby being killed. Very very sad.

AmeliaBEdwards · 27/03/2023 19:23

One Olympian boxer (in next Olympics) and one TV presenter. One murder victim and one accessory to murder.

Twizbe · 27/03/2023 19:24

Actually thinking about it. Mum also taught a minor royal. She said at the time that she'd be in all the gossip mags when she's older - she was right really.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 27/03/2023 19:25

Not a teacher but I went to school with a current MP. She was and by all accounts still is lovely.

Newuser82 · 27/03/2023 19:25

@clarepetal apparently really creepy.

ToHellBackAndBeyond · 27/03/2023 19:28

A psychopath. Nasty and insidious piece of work. Put me off teaching for life.

Purplepeoniesdroppingpetals · 27/03/2023 19:28

My dad taught a famous chef’s wife (but not actually him, although he seems to think my dad did) and a famous author. He liked them all, happily. I’ve taught a racing driver but have lost track of whether he’s still in that sport; someone who used to be a professional footballer. I always feel so impressed when hearing about the variety of stuff they get up to when they leave. Best bit of teaching is when you hear their successes.

damnbratz · 27/03/2023 19:28

I taught a member of the women's football team that won the Euros last year when she was in Y6. She was always an outstanding athlete, particularly at running, but she played football at break and lunchtime and was better than most including the boys although she didnt play for a team then as she was more interested in running.

LadyHester · 27/03/2023 19:29

One Prime Minister.

damnbratz · 27/03/2023 19:30

I've also taught an up and coming boxer whose last few fights have been televised.

Nailsandthesea · 27/03/2023 19:37

I taught a girl who arrived mid year in year 8. Excluded from another school. I repeatedly flagged concerns as her tutor to the HT, the local authority and the governors. Things that she said. Not for shock value but just in conversation. She wanted to be a nurse and was open about her reason being she liked the feel and smell of blood. I was like - this was a red neon light. The left school and I was not surprised to find her name in the press associated with a number of murders.

The number of times I was told ‘she’s just trying to shock and scare people’ - I was nope this is her and we need to act now. Nothing was done.

I have taught celebrities children - all of them pleasant nice and attentive parents. Can’t name them though.

I have also marked the exam papers of famous people - again can’t name names and to be honest these days the names aren’t necessarily given but 20 odd years ago they were. But I can’t even remember what they got they were just papers in a pile!

Newuser82 · 27/03/2023 19:53

Nailsandthesea · 27/03/2023 19:37

I taught a girl who arrived mid year in year 8. Excluded from another school. I repeatedly flagged concerns as her tutor to the HT, the local authority and the governors. Things that she said. Not for shock value but just in conversation. She wanted to be a nurse and was open about her reason being she liked the feel and smell of blood. I was like - this was a red neon light. The left school and I was not surprised to find her name in the press associated with a number of murders.

The number of times I was told ‘she’s just trying to shock and scare people’ - I was nope this is her and we need to act now. Nothing was done.

I have taught celebrities children - all of them pleasant nice and attentive parents. Can’t name them though.

I have also marked the exam papers of famous people - again can’t name names and to be honest these days the names aren’t necessarily given but 20 odd years ago they were. But I can’t even remember what they got they were just papers in a pile!

You may not want to say but was it Joanna dennehy? Her name sprang to mind. I watched a documentary about her a while ago and it was chilling