One of the longest working members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, Michael Bates, still loves teaching after 60 years in the profession.

Michael was only 18 years old when he joined Snaith County School in the East Ridings of Yorkshire as a student teacher.

After just a few weeks, he was given the opportunity to start leading classes when another teacher left.

“I always wanted to be a teacher,” says Michael, now 78. “My first memory of this is from when I was a pupil at primary school.

“At the age of nine, I was given the job of leading group reading with less able pupils and I think that the spark was kindled then.”

After a year at Snaith, Michael went to study to become a qualified teacher and then taught French and history for ten years.

He moved on to work as a deputy head teacher and a head teacher for more than 20 years, during which time he gained Bachelor of Arts (Education) and Master of Education degrees.

But in 1994, Michael was offered the opportunity to take voluntary redundancy and he decided to accept it.

“That turned out to be a very good decision because it kept me going” says Michael.

“I went back to where I started, The Snaith School as it is now known, and worked part-time mainly as a French specialist for 20 years.”

Michael is still working as a supply teacher providing one-to-one teaching for various schools and says he will carry on as long as possible.

“I have always been very, very happy in teaching,” he says. “I have been lucky with the schools I have been to and the people I have worked with.

“And I have met some lovely children along the way. I love the fact that people who are grown-up now walk down the street and say, ‘Hello Sir. How are you?’

“The oldest person I have taught is 76 years old now. He is a retired plumber in our village and I would have been just 18 when he was 16.”

Michael joined the NASUWT as a student member in 1960 and says this has been really beneficial throughout his career.

“I’ve always felt there has been someone at my back to support me,” says Michael, a member of the East Riding of Yorkshire Local Association of the NASUWT.

“Most of the schools I have worked at, particularly secondary schools, have had a very strong NASUWT membership and there has been a very strong camaraderie.”

As such an experienced teacher, Michael has seen many changes in education policy and he is concerned about the Government’s current priorities.

 “I would like to go back to when the needs of children came first, rather than the needs of statisticians,” he says.

“The unions have a great deal of work to do on this, and I think that the NASUWT is probably leading the field.”

Michael is one of the dedicated teachers featured in our Celebrating Experience campaign.