Welcome to the 44th edition of the TOTR newsletter.
Let's get dangerous!
1. Quote to Think About
The ball is round for everyone.
- Former Italy International Mario Balotelli
Sometimes we don't feel we have what it takes to achieve our dreams because we feel small. The people we admire are human too. They go through the same pressures and self-doubts all humans do.
You have gotta take your chances and keep believing.
Sometimes we give difficult situations (and people) way more respect than they deserve.
2. An Insight Worth Considering
I read a Guardian report that laid bare the challenges that teachers are facing in 2026.
This isn't merely a mental health crisis because teachers are now expected to carry the health, social care, and well-being pillars that have been demolished over subsequent governments.
Here are the key findings:
• 75% of teachers prioritise pupils' mental health over teaching at least once a week.
• Teachers estimate that 24% of their students need urgent mental health support.
• Nearly 90% feel more involved in providing mental health support than before.
• 78% of teachers report that students’ mental health has worsened since they started teaching.
• 76% say only half or fewer students needing help receive it.
• 74% believe inadequate mental health support harms students' learning.
• NHS England is treating 55% more under-18s for mental health issues since 2020.
• In 2022-23, 949,200 children were referred to NHS mental health services, with 270,300 left waiting.
• Waiting times for support ranged from 4 to 147 days.
It actually shocks me that education officials think this is sustainable for teachers who are already struggling.
The way we train teachers has to fundamentally change not only for our kids’ mental health but for all the technological changes coming down the pipe.
The answer isn't asking teachers to do more. It's redesigning the profession for the realities of today.
Teacher training should place greater emphasis on psychology, digital wellbeing and AI, while schools build stronger mental health support teams so teachers can focus on teaching.
Until the role is redesigned, we'll continue expecting teachers to carry responsibilities no profession can sustain.
Education needs reform.
Now.
3. A Resource to Explore
The problem I describe above goes beyond the classroom and I feel that it is really exacerbating the UK unemployment crisis.
Youth unemployment now stands at 16.2% nationally and 24% in London. Alan Milburn's recent NEETs report warns that more than one million young people are currently not in education, employment or training—and that figure could rise to 1.5 million by 2030.
If that's true, perhaps the problem isn't young people.
Perhaps we're still preparing them for a job market that no longer exists.
That's why, in this week's episode of the Maverick School Podcast, I wanted to speak with Olivia Saunders.
Olivia has worked across education, safeguarding and inclusion for years and now helps shape technical education pathways through the Baker Dearing Educational Trust and Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Our conversation completely challenged the way I think about careers education.
In this episode, we explore:
🔹 Why we're still preparing young people for yesterday's job market—not tomorrow's.
🔹 The little-known education model that could help tackle Britain's youth unemployment crisis.
🔹 Why traditional work experience may actually be preparing young people for the wrong workplace.
🔹 Why some of the UK's smartest employers now expect young people to use AI—not avoid it.
🔹 The exciting, high-paying industries desperate for talent that barely get a mention at most school careers fairs.
This isn't just a conversation about careers.
It's about helping young people build a future in a world that's changing faster than ever before.
If you're a young person wondering where you fit into today's economy— or an adult who supports them, I think you'll find this conversation both reassuring and challenging.
🎙️ Listen now on your favourite podcast platform.
Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep10-the-jobs-market-changed-schools-didnt-further/id1881678199?i=1000775691078
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0lctW9kVqmeOtrbsCOfXOs?si=rQ4I6a51QS2nfATHAtn3OA
Podbean
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-x24ss-1b06d97
4. The Small Thing That Helped Me This Fortnight
As the World has been enthralled by the latest World Cup, there are a lot of things that I felt I didn't understand, especially about team formations and tactics.
And then I picked up this wonderful little book called 'How To Watch Football' by The Athletic.
It breaks down all the rules and strategies in bite-sized chunks that make me feel like I have genius-level football knowledge. If you want to know how elite footballers and coaches think without having to earn your coaching badges, this book is for you.
5. A Question to Sit With
Despite the alleged corruption by FIFA and all the scandals that follow the tournament, the World Cup has genuinely lifted the spirits of millions and possibly billions of people around the world.
I know this sounds very naive, but it's still worth asking. Indulge me in this thought experiment.
Is there a global event that, as a civilisation, we could plan yearly to bring us together?
I know it sounds very John Lennon-ish, but one can only dream, eh?
The next newsletter comes out on Thursday, 23rd July 2026.
Until then, take care.
Karl
