Photo: School classroom onboard...

School lessons onboard Sänna are always interesting. One on one teaching is considered a highly satisfactory ratio in most schools... but Bealy has the distinct 'advantage' of three on one, although he doesn't usually quite see it like that. "Three teachers to one pupil is a kid's worst nightmare..." Maybe he's right?

Marie takes the brunt of it all (from many directions) and shows great patience. Louise, an experienced teacher, regularly joins us onboard to assist in Bealy's education. And I get to take over for maths... we both have a ball of a time and I have the opportunity to stimulate his rebellious side. When I'm told off too by my 'teacher' colleagues both Bealy and I mutter dark threats of mutiny under our breaths. My argument is it's my job to teach him everything he needs to know about more important things, like spitting into a pan from five paces, decisive girl chat up lines and how to pee the highest up the wall...

It all goes very well. Bealy goes back into mainstream school when he's back with his dad in England but his educational level is very high. So he gets his fantastic sea life with us onboard Sänna plus the unstructured offbeat education he needs... and he grumbles incessantly when he has to go back into 'proper' school. The system we have developed is very good.

Note: we have received fantastic support from Henry's school headmistress Mrs Gretton (Burton Joyce Primary school). She provides us lesson plans to follow and freely gives Henry long extended periods out of school, a controversial issue. She has now been suspended by the Local Education Authority.
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