The Alternative Provision Podcast: Bringing Your Best Self to the Classroom
How do we bring our 'best selves' to the classroom and remain a consistent, positive presence for our young people.
In this episode
In this edition, we explore what it truly means to bring your best self to the classroom. Host Amy is joined by Patricia O’Boyle, one of our dedicated English teachers, to discuss the power of authenticity, human connection, and self-awareness in online teaching.
Together, they unpack why being genuine, approachable, and emotionally present has such a profound impact on students – particularly those in alternative provision who may have faced barriers to learning in the past.
Patricia shares her reflections on building trust through consistency, celebrating every success (no matter how small), and the importance of giving students space to grow in their own time.
They also explore how teachers can recognise when they’re not feeling their best and the strategies that help them reconnect with their own wellbeing – because, as Patricia beautifully reminds us, “we are human too.”
Meet our guest
Patricia O’Boyle has been teaching English for nearly 20 years in a range of mainstream and Alternative Provision settings. One motivating factor in her decision to teach online was how technology can be used to help break down barriers to learning and help students meet their potential.
Written by
Academy21
Posted on
06/11/2025
Updated on
04/12/2025
Topic
Mental healthPost type
Podcast
