Sad day for Arden
We have just been notified of the death of Mick Knight a much-respected teacher at Arden between 1985 and 2010. The Arden flags will fly at half mast as a mark of respect and to celebrate his contributions to school life at Arden. Many staff and students will remember Mick, who, for many years, was a highly respected and popular member of the English department and Arden Governor. Sadly, he passed away on Saturday evening after a long illness. Mick really was a fighter and confounded his doctors by surviving much longer than expected.
Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.
For many years he was the face of Arden Library. He loved books and wanted to do everything he could to encourage pupils to read and enjoy that reading with as much pleasure as he did. As a teacher he got some of the best English GCSE results in the school.
There were many other things that Mick Knight did to make Arden the school it is today. He always loved to win, whether it was an argument or a sports fixture. He coached school teams for football and badminton and went on several ski trips. But it was the house system that really fired him up. He was passionate about his role as Head of Fleming, chasing round school to get teams for every single house event so that Fleming would beat all the other houses hands down. They often did!
Comments from former colleagues have been unanimous in their praise of his teaching skills and his many positive qualities:
...Mick was a typical gruff northerner who didn't suffer fools gladly but who had a heart of gold. He always wanted the pupils in his charge to achieve the very best that they could and always went the extra mile to help them achieve it. He had real integrity about what he did and tried to achieve. He also possessed a lovely sense of humour and always made me smile. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
...Mick was totally dedicated to helping and supporting the pupils he taught and like his attitude to sport, he gave everything to make sure they were successful. He was a lovely colleague, friend and gifted teacher. Everyone who knew him will have wonderful memories of a great man who not only inspired pupils but also fellow teachers. He was liked, respected and admired by pupils and staff alike.
...Mick was an inspired, and inspiring, English teacher, who was always generous-spirited; willingly sharing ideas, resources and amusing anecdotes. He was a key player in a department that made teaching at English at Arden a lively and creative force. His wit, professionalism, and passion for the subject, and the students, shone through that sometimes curmudgeonly, northern exterior, so that those of us who really knew him, loved him well.
...Mick was a passionately committed, inspiring teacher and highly esteemed colleague; a much valued friend who enriched life with kindness, Yorkshire wisdom, knowing sensitivity and brilliantly humorous one-liners!
...Mick was a great colleague and as the parent of a former pupil, a fab teacher - something I am glad to say I told him (following my son's fantastic GCSE English result). Lovely man, will be missed.
