The year was 2010 and I was in my fifth year as a teacher. I’d been told from the outset that not many people transition into teaching in later in life, but I’d though, ‘I raised three kids on my own, how hard can it be?’ What nobody told me – and I’ll admit I never bothered to ask – was that not all kids were polite, intelligent and interested in learning.

Nobody bothered telling me – though this I should have been able to figure out for myself – that maths and science are among the most hated subjects in school, and only weirdos like me actually like them.