Engineering chief goes back to school at Globe Academy

Mr Fine joined some of Britain's most successful leaders who tried their hand at teaching as part of independent charity Teach First's annual initiative which aims to inspire graduates to enter the teaching profession and encourage students to achieve academic success.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my brief stint at teaching a Design & Technology lesson," said Nigel Fine.

"It made me realise just how hard teachers work and the amount of effort that goes into preparing and delivering an effective, engaging lesson. I hope that my time with the young people has provided them with a basic understanding of what engineering is and the wide range of possible career options available to them."

Teacher Ed Watson said: "It was a refreshing chance for pupils to see the practical side of studying Design & Technology and just how far studying can take you. I know our pupils went away inspired and full of questions which they will hopefully endeavour to find the answer to."

Teach First believes that bringing excellent teachers into challenging secondary schools across the UK will help close the gap in education standards in disadvantaged areas.

Brett Wigdortz, CEO of Teach First, said: "Great teachers and leaders who are committed to addressing educational disadvantage are absolutely vital if we are to make inroads into the UK's critical social mobility problem."

Globe Academy opened in September 2008 after the merger of the troubled Geoffrey Chaucer Technology College and Joseph Lancaster Primary School. The school's first results since becoming an academy are encouraging: 50 per cent of students achieved at least five A*-C grades overall, a rise of seven percentage points since 2008.

These improved results have not gone unnoticed. Children's secretary Ed Balls, who visited the academy on its opening day, has written to principal Jason Baigent to congratulate him and everyone at Globe Academy on their improved GCSE results.