Mark Bird

Mark Bird, BA Education alumnus trained to be a teacher at Edge Hill from 1989 to 1993. Mark, now living in London, has been a deputy head, an art teacher and taught every year to year six, but is now based in nursery after years of being a key stage 2 teacher. Mark said, “For years I refused to teach nursery and now I never want to leave. It’s magical”.

Mark is originally from Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. While studying his A Levels and still not sure what to do next, a representative from Edge Hill visited the school to promote the college and teaching as a career. Mark remembers thinking, “Teaching? That sounds cool. I think I’ll be good at that” And that was it, he applied to study at Edge Hill and never looked back.

The most impressive part about Mark and his career is that he practises what he preaches, writing children’s books and poetry. His debut picture book, Halloween Date From Hell came out October 2022 and his latest picture book, The Klangaroo (illustrated by Chris White) was released in May 2024. Mark’s work has featured in The Caterpillar, Northern Gravy, Gill Education’s Over The Moon series, Brian Moses’ The Best Ever Book of Funny Poems anthology and many magazines. He has poems featured in two upcoming Macmillan anthologies, the first being ‘Heroes and Villains’, illustrated by previous children’s laureate, Chris Riddell.

Mark told us that he now works part-time so he has time for writing. He also added, “Over the years, I have never fallen out of love with teaching.” Attributing his work-life balance as a contributing factor, he adds, “The parents, often 30 years younger than me, always ask where I get my energy from! I am lucky as the writing gives me a creative outlet to call my own.”

Mark credits Edge Hill as being an incredibly, inspirational chapter of his life. “I had some brilliant art and education tutors at Edge Hill. I also probably had more fun and life-enriching experiences condensed into four years, like never before or since.”