As Pastoral Manager at Maiden Erlegh School in Reading, Dan Bone plays a central role in supporting behaviour across the school. From leading the refocus room to working with phase leaders, he focuses on helping students manage challenges, stay in lessons, and find ways to succeed.

Q: Dan, what draws you to this work?

A: Many of the students I work with find school difficult for different reasons. I’ve been able to build positive relationships with them, break down barriers to learning, and make sure they feel listened to. They know I’ll back them when I can — but they also understand I’ll hold them to account when needed. Everyone deserves their chance. For some, school isn’t easy, but my job is to make it manageable.

“Everyone deserves their chance. For some, school isn’t easy, but my job is to make it manageable.”

Q: What helps you approach the role successfully?

A: Experience is key. I’ve worked with students in a range of circumstances, and that means I can adapt my approach depending on the situation. I’m also backed by supportive colleagues and leaders who trust me to make decisions in students’ best interests. As a team we’ve supported one another through busy periods, and that collaboration makes a difference.

Q: What moments stand out for you?

A: It’s when students show me a piece of work they’re proud of. They’ll say, “Look what I did in this lesson.” For them, it reflects real effort and progress, and it’s powerful to see. Those moments give them confidence and a sense of achievement. I also try to link everything back to future goals so they can see the bigger picture.

Q: Which MET values connect most to your work?

A: My role sits equally between Aim High and Work Together. Students need to be challenged to set aspirations, but they also need to know we’re working alongside them to get there.

Q: What advice would you give to others doing similar work?

A: Consistency and availability matter most. Sometimes just a quick conversation can prevent a situation from escalating. And you need down time. This job is busy, so having something outside of school is vital. For me, it’s football. I play to a decent level, and that’s even helped me connect with students who face the biggest challenges at school.

Q: And what’s next for you?

A: At the moment I mainly see a small percentage of students. I’d like to work more closely with Heads of Year to create experiences for whole year groups, building on things I’ve done before.