When popularity is your only goal, doing well in class is going to feature very low, if at all, on your priority list.

Despotism isn't nearly as bad as it's cracked up to be.

There is so much that is positive, wonderful even, about state schools. At a state school your kids will learn to live alongside and appreciate other kids from many diverse and different cultures.

I was accorded the opportunity to learn by failing - albeit at the cost of a few honourable teachers' sanity - and now I realise what a rare and incredible luxury that is.

I have never done a package tour in my life. It appeals in a way, but then I remind myself that you can't control the other people with you, which could turn out to be ghastly.

I would like it to be a legal requirement for all businesses to be linked to a charity.

Success, in whatever form it takes, is a tricky thing - once you've achieved your goal, then what? Where do you aim?