My Burford - Mike Pierce

This week we caught up with Mike Pierce, our Assistant SENDCo and Teacher of Sport, to find out more about his journey to Burford, his work supporting students, and what he loves most about life at the school.

Before joining Burford, I spent around ten years at All Saints’ Academy in Cheltenham. It was a large school that went through a lot of change while I was there, and being part of that journey — moving from a traditional state school to academy status — was really rewarding.

I started off as Second in Department for PE, then became Assistant Head of Year, and later Head of Year for eight years. It was challenging at times, but I loved the pastoral side and the chance to really get to know the students and their families.

Year 11 was probably my favourite year group to lead. I took three different cohorts through to their exams, including during COVID, a huge challenge for everyone. Keeping students motivated through remote learning wasn’t easy, and it was tough seeing them miss out on those end-of-school moments they’d worked so hard for. But it taught me a lot about resilience — both theirs and mine — and how creative you have to be as a teacher when the world turns upside down.

After that, I led Year 7 — the only group I hadn’t worked with before — and that opened my eyes to just how big that move from primary to secondary really is. What feels like a small step to us can feel enormous to them. It made me far more aware of how important that transition period is in helping students feel supported, understood, and confident.

During this time, I decided that a change of direction would better align with my strengths and began the National Award for SEN Coordination (NASENCO) qualification. When the opportunity arose to join Burford as Assistant SENDCo, it felt like the right time for a new challenge. I’d always been interested in the SEND side of education, and this role gave me the chance to learn more while still teaching PE, which I love.

When I visited and met Mr Bassett, I immediately felt that Burford was somewhere special — a school where everyone works together for the students and where support is genuinely built into everything.

I was diagnosed with dyslexia at fifteen, although I’d struggled for much longer without realising why. I used to think I just wasn’t interested in the books I was given, when in fact I hadn’t been given choices that grabbed my attention. I learned to mask the challenges from a young age, but it never held me back. For me, dyslexia isn’t just about reading or spelling — it’s about how information is processed. Once I found strategies that worked for me, everything changed. Cue cards and separate notes never worked; I need to see the whole picture. That experience now shapes how I support students every day.

In the SEND Department, we help students remove barriers and find the learning style that works for them. Many arrive believing they “can’t” do something, but once they find a different way of approaching it, they realise they can — and that’s such a powerful moment to witness. Some of the most rewarding times are when a student who’s been masking how they really feel finally opens up — you can literally see the weight lift off their shoulders. Those are the moments that stay with me.

Before having my children, every weekend was taken up with sports. I’m a keen hockey player and played for Cheltenham Town in the National League for years, as well as following rugby closely. Then COVID hit, and at the same time, our eldest arrived — it felt like a natural change of pace. That period helped me step back, find balance, and focus on family life. Sport is still a huge part of my world, though; it’s always on at home. I still play the odd midweek hockey match and follow Gloucester and Exeter in rugby.

Really, I just love sport — it’s one of the reasons I enjoy this role so much. I get to stay connected to it through teaching and being part of the PE Department. I’m also lucky to work with such a supportive team — both the PE and SEN Departments — who were incredible when my twins were unwell shortly after I joined. Their kindness and teamwork truly reflect what makes Burford such a special place.

What I admire most about the school is how naturally our ethos — Respect, Participate, Reach — runs through everything. You see it in how students treat one another, how they get involved in every aspect of school life, and how they constantly push themselves to do better. That “Reach” element has inspired me personally — to learn more, to try new approaches, and to keep finding ways to bring out the best in every student I work with.