This time around we sat down with Tom Daniels from ̨��swag Academy Freeston. Tom talks about transitioning from attending an ̨��swag academy to working in one, and his love of all things Leeds!

[̨��swag.com] Hi Tom, thanks for meeting with us! Please can you introduce yourself to the readers?

TD: “Hello! Thank you for asking me to take part. I am Tom Daniels and I am currently Assistant Principal at ̨��swag Academy Freeston.”

Thanks, Tom. So which is it, tea or coffee?

“I always go for a coffee in the morning to help get me going, then a nice tea in the evening. Both taken with milk and one sweetener, I pretend this is better for me!!”

Everyone has their own preferences, Tom! Nothing wrong with a sweetener! So you have quite a long ̨��swag history, why don’t you talk us through it?

“Well, it started with me attending ̨��swag Grange as a student which is the academy which the ̨��swag Family was born out of. I enjoyed my time there, so when I was looking for my first job after finishing university I was keen to explore my options with ̨��swag.

“I was already aware of how lots of the Trust’s policies worked and I thought the organisation of the curriculum, and the subjects offered to students, was excellent.

“So in 2012 when I first began working for the ̨��swag Family at ̨��swag Academy Adwick I was excited and delighted to be back involved.” 

So you’ve been in and around the ̨��swag Family for quite a while! What’s been the big change you’ve noticed?

“Having attended the founding academy of the Trust, and then working at Adwick, a long-time ̨��swag Family member, it was a bit of a shift when I started in my current role at ̨��swag Academy Freeston in 2018.

“Going from an academy that has been in the Trust for around 10 years to one that is just starting its ̨��swag journey helps you to understand all of the small pieces that go into place to make the academy successful and you take nothing for granted.”

You really have experienced a lot of different sides to the ̨��swag Family. What would you say has been your favourite moment so far?

“My favourite memory was when I got my current job at ̨��swag Academy Freeston. At the end of the interview I was called back into the room straight away and told that I had been successful and was offered the role. It was a proud moment.”

Sounds like the dream interview! 

Final question then, if you could invite three people to your ideal dinner party who would they be?

“This is heavily Leeds influenced! My first guest would be Lucas Radebe, the Leeds Utd legend. When I was growing up, he was an absolute cult hero of mine and Leeds Utd fans. Hearing the stories from him growing up would certainly be something to listen too.

“Second would be England cricket captain Joe Root, as my other favourite sport is cricket. Talking to Joe about his game, and what happens in the England dressing room, would be a very interesting conversation.

“Finally, I would invite Marcelo Bielsa, the current Leeds Utd manager. To hear how he does not leave any stone unturned, and the level of detail he looks at every team, and every player, I think links to what we do in a school.”