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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:
OneCup · 27/03/2023 22:09

@joystar59 sorry, no. Tbh I wouldn't be surprised if people hadn't heard of mine. They're not famous per se. They're just on TV.

Someone said they wished people weren't so secretive with names. The problem with mine is that you could work out where I worked if I revealed mine. As I don't know how to change my MN name on the app so will need to stay quiet. You're really not missing much though.

weirdoboelady · 27/03/2023 22:09

I taught at a well known prep school (1-1 instrumental tuition). One of my pupils said that he hadn't been able to practise that week because he'd had some family problems. "Oh dear" I said, fearing marital problems. The child then explained that his father had fired his chauffeur and the chauffeur was taking him to Employment Tribunal. One of the more original excuses tendered to me over the years.

Telling this story in the staff room, I was (only) then told which family the child belonged to...... (no, not actually royalty).

Playdoughcaterpillar · 27/03/2023 22:11

Anskl · 27/03/2023 21:07

My Dad taught Gavin from Gavin & Stacey and several England cricketers

Then he taught my DH too as he was in Mat Horne's class 😆

DivineAffliction · 27/03/2023 22:15

weirdoboelady · 27/03/2023 22:09

I taught at a well known prep school (1-1 instrumental tuition). One of my pupils said that he hadn't been able to practise that week because he'd had some family problems. "Oh dear" I said, fearing marital problems. The child then explained that his father had fired his chauffeur and the chauffeur was taking him to Employment Tribunal. One of the more original excuses tendered to me over the years.

Telling this story in the staff room, I was (only) then told which family the child belonged to...... (no, not actually royalty).

The child sounds insufferable! It’s not exactly an improvement on ‘the dog ate my homework’, either…

maddy68 · 27/03/2023 22:16

Yes a famous actor , famous singer and famous footballer in my teaching career

AlwaysColdHands · 27/03/2023 22:20

@Anskl I think your Dad may also have taught me! Can you say what subject he taught?

weirdoboelady · 27/03/2023 22:21

DivineAffliction · 27/03/2023 22:15

The child sounds insufferable! It’s not exactly an improvement on ‘the dog ate my homework’, either…

No, they really weren't. It was genuine. I could see that it had taken up a lot of the family's energy that week. Don't forget that children see their own background as normal, to them! - and we are talking about a 10 year old.

NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy · 27/03/2023 22:33

Over 20 years of teaching in London comps:

A child who murdered 3 other children at 13.

A child Hollywood actor.

3 premier league footballers

An Olympic silver medalist runner

A TV magician

A Britain's Got Talent finalist.

No sign of anything unusual in any of these kids, all very normal kids.

TidyDancer · 27/03/2023 22:35

My parents taught an Olympic medalist in his teenage years and a future murderer at primary age. Apparently both were showing their potential at the time they knew them.

Houseyvibe · 27/03/2023 22:36

My mum was a Hollywood A listers year 3 teacher. She still chats to their mum in the supermarket as they do their food shop at the same time most weeks

Redebs · 27/03/2023 22:38

WhoStoleMyTiddyOggy · 27/03/2023 22:02

Wow @spanieleyes did you notice anything about them?

The ones that I've taught that went on to kill have been no surprise. Total self-preservation in all things and quick to react with violence to any perceived disrespect.

One of them was trying to impress fellow gang members and picked a victim at random to hit with machete. I remember him as a kid, knotted up inside. I sat with him one afternoon and chatted to calm him after he had trashed a classroom and remember that at the time I just wished someone had intervened earlier in his young life.

Another was a big swaggering lad who was a one-punch killer. I don't think it was intentional with him, but he had a really bad attitude and I can imagine how it happened.

Both of those guys would probably have grown out of it given a while to mature a bit, but unfortunately for them and their victims, it didn't happen.

A couple grew up to seriously sexually abuse children. I definitely wasn't surprised with one having taught him for a couple of years. I'm glad he was caught.

I do scan local media occasionally and there are a few struggling to stay the right side of the law. Usually their offences make sense, knowing what they used to be like. Again, with time and maturity there are fewer of these.

There have been a few comedy moments, like when one guy was being sought by police for attacking a random stranger and phoned in on the number given to argue that yes he had punched and kicked him, but the bloke had said something he didn't like.

On the positive side, many, many kids have gone through seriously messed up times and have never made headlines anywhere. Hopefully being able to read and write and having learned some anger management from a teacher who wanted them to be their best has helped them live ordinary, uneventful lives.

seratoninmoonbeams · 27/03/2023 22:40

@Dumbo18 I was thinking exactly the same. Especially when it's not even the person writing who directly taught them fgs.

mmalinky · 27/03/2023 22:41

A child who murdered 3 other children at 13.

I can't believe I don't remember this,

Messyhair321 · 27/03/2023 22:42

Not a teacher but school related

My DD went to school with Maisey Williams if that counts (game of thrones).
Oh & my dad went to school with Myra Hindley.
He has a school group photo with her in it.
I don't know what else to say about that

whatbehaviour · 27/03/2023 22:42

@Redebs dear god where on earth did you work? I'd like to bee as far away from there as possible!

Seraphina1993 · 27/03/2023 22:45

Not a teacher but my mum went to school with George Michael

Costacoffeeplease · 27/03/2023 22:46

I went to school with Martin Freeman’s older brothers

determinedtomakethiswork · 27/03/2023 22:46

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.

Were they all in the same school?

determinedtomakethiswork · 27/03/2023 22:49

Fladdermus · 27/03/2023 20:26

I taught a young girl who will one day be queen. I say 'taught' but what I really mean is 'did 2 weeks work experience in her school after completing my GCSEs'.

Who is that?

determinedtomakethiswork · 27/03/2023 22:50

Fladdermus · 27/03/2023 20:26

I taught a young girl who will one day be queen. I say 'taught' but what I really mean is 'did 2 weeks work experience in her school after completing my GCSEs'.

Are you talking about Kate Middleton?

changer121 · 27/03/2023 22:53

@Biscuitsneeded

Im so surprised that two of us went there and I'm glad she's doing well .
I definitely only got my gcse C in French because of her - I had no language skills at all but she was very kind along with Madame F .
I remember her so well and it's lovely to know she's doing well.

@squashyhat 👋🏻
I was there in 83-87 I think 🤔

BogRollBOGOF · 27/03/2023 23:03

I've taught a murderer. I recognised him in the article in the local paper about 4/5 years later; a sad, stupid waste of young lives in gang violence type murder that's far too common.

I got on OK with him. He was "hard" and had a reputation, but I managed not to rile him up and coaxed him along enough to get through the course. He came from challenging circumstances with a hard life in a hard area and I'm sadly not shocked that he ended up mixed up in that kind of scene.

TBH, I'm surprised I haven't recognised more former students in the local news for the wrong reasons.

Staggeringthrough2023 · 27/03/2023 23:06

An astonishing amount of Olympians and murderers on here.

CatchThatCat · 27/03/2023 23:07

Staggeringthrough2023 · 27/03/2023 23:06

An astonishing amount of Olympians and murderers on here.

I agree!

justasking111 · 27/03/2023 23:09

I guess some kids you remember because they were troubled.

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