There is a shortage of teachers but the January 2001 schools census showed that teacher numbers were at their highest level than at any time since 1984 - and 11 000 higher than 1997.

I didn't want to be the archetypal sponging brother-in-law so I didn't go into acting when I got to the States. I thought 'No I'll go to school and then I'll be an English teacher that'll be fun.' But I was horrible as a teacher. As hard as I tried I just couldn't inspire those kids to take an interest in Milton and Shakespeare and Donne.

I had a teacher in art school who said something about the only works he really enjoyed seeing or found much in were works where he had a sense that a discovery was made in the course of making this object. I like to hold to that as my marching orders.

My first acting job happened by accident when I was really young. I was in fifth grade and my teacher saw an ad in the paper and took me to the audition after school and I got the part.

Before I got Doctor Who I went to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. I went back to take the final grade exam which is the grade you have to take before you can take the teacher's diploma.

I had a really creative teacher at primary school. He used to get us doing things such as singing Spandau Ballet in drag in the choir and I remember loving it.

I remember the mentoring experiences of some teachers that I had like a second term home room teacher in public school that really was very helpful to me.

What we now call school training the pursuit of fixed studies at stated hours under the constant guidance of a teacher I could scarcely be said to have enjoyed.

My father followed during most of his life the precarious occupation of a country school teacher.

My grandmother was a teacher my sister was a teacher my daughter was a teacher and is now a superintendent in northern California and my son-in-law is a high school principal. I am surrounded.