Dave McPartlin

Every now and again in school leadership you get one of those metaphorical ‘golden buzzer' moments. It’s that magical occasion when all your hard work and dedication, creativity and courage come together and something amazing happens that transforms the entire school community.

Although, if you are Dave McPartlin, that Golden Buzzer was not metaphorical but actual and what started with him encouraging his children to ‘dare to dream’ culminated in Dave on stage in a leotard being hugged by a weeping David Walliams.

Of course, that unforgettable moment on Britain’s Got Talent with practically every child from the school on the stage and every parent in the audience, was simply part of the bigger picture of Dave's working as the headteacher of Flakefleet Primary School near Blackpool.

Having always lived and worked in areas of social challenge, Dave’s understands that change starts with dreaming big. For him, encouraging his community to ‘dare to dream’ meant running with whatever they suggested and then working together to make dreams come true.

Want a royal wedding procession on the streets of the town. We can do that? Want a Christmas number one? Let's give it a go. Fancy being on Britain’s Got Talent? Hold my coat.