Botheredness by Hywel Roberts

The seminar that stayed with me in the National Education show— Hywel Roberts’ Pedagogy of Hope and
Action — was more than a presentation. It was an invitation. An
invitation to teach with heart, to lead with story, and to build a
curriculum rooted in compassion.

“Let’s say we’re on a Greek ship…” Hywel began. And just like that, we
were sailing — exploring people, place, and problem. Context and
purpose became our compass. This wasn’t just storytelling. It was
storyliving.

His book Botheredness speaks to a curriculum that cares. A curriculum
that warms the room. Twelve pages from a toolkit — twelve ways to show
we’re bothered. That we care.

We stood. We spoke. We imagined. Enactive approaches asked: how many
pupils are on their feet? Oracy gave us a reason to write. Engagement
shifted from dependence to investment. Pupils didn’t just participate
— they were present.

This is teaching that feels. Teaching that moves. Teaching that matters.