Dedicated Eric Jones is believed to be Britain’s oldest teacher at 82 years old.<br /><br />The grandfather-of-five has taught at least 4,000 children Religious Education and English since he started his career in 1969.<br /><br />“I just love teaching, just standing in front of a class of students is thrilling,” he said.<br /><br />Eric worked in schools in London in the 60s before officially retiring in 2001 aged 61.<br /><br />The father-of-two moved to Evesham, Worcs., with his wife Vivienne, 77, for their retirement but has now returned to the classroom.<br /><br />Following the Covid pandemic, the government pleaded with retired teachers to rejoin the workforce to cover staff shortages and help kids catch-up.<br /><br />Eric jumped at the chance to get back to teaching and works two days a week covering various subjects at schools in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.<br /><br />He said: “At the end of 2021 the government announced if any retired teachers would be able to help out in schools as the pandemic was coming to an end. <br /><br />“It would save the schools.<br /><br />“I was taken up by an agency and they send me out to secondary schools and I only do one day a week, sometimes two.<br /><br />“It’s just a bit self-indulgent, I'm still teaching teenagers, 30 an hour. I’m knocking on a bit, I only do one or two days a week.<br /><br />“I teach 160 odd teenagers a day, it’s quite tiring. I occasionally do two days. <br /><br />“My wife and I had a dream of sailing into Sydney harbour on a cruise ship, it was dream fulfilled. So we haven’t missed out by me going back. <br /><br />“I’ve sailed all over the world. I help out when I can. I might have to grow old, but I don't have to grow up. <br /><br />“I’ve been mostly volunteering and helping kids for 60 years. <br /><br />“At my age it is bizarre to teach youngsters, but as long as I'm able to do it at my age I will carry on. <br /><br />“I love teaching and watching kids learn things.”<br /><br />He says the biggest change to modern classrooms is children have mobile phones and it can prove to be a distraction during lessons.<br /><br />Eric added: “I can’t think there’s many over the age of 80 teaching, everyone says I’m an idiot. <br /><br />“I’m going to carry on doing it until I keel over. I probably am the oldest teacher, but who’s going to do the survey. <br /><br />“I don’t need to do it. I can control a class of 15 year olds easily.<br /><br />“The agency didn’t know at the time I was 82, they just knew I was going on supply teaching. <br /><br />“I taught a boy in the 1960s and he’s now a grandfather. It’s all been a gas. <br /><br />“As long as I can stand up straight and talk. You can do anything. I ended up with a Year 9 Sex Education class the other week. <br /><br />“The big difference is mobile phones. <br /><br />“The technology is, on occasions, hugely baffling. <br /><br />“There have been occasions where I've taught an entire lesson where I hadn't realised it was on the smart board.<br /><br />“Teaching again at my age has been an education for me too and I’ve loved every moment of it. I’ve got no plans to retire again any time soon.”
