Hi all, my name is Nithen Pathmanathen. My aim is to provide free food to students, particularly to those who are Pupil Premium (PP). For those of you who are unsure of the term, a PP student is one who comes from a low income family background receiving less than £7,400 after tax, in receipt of financial governmental support and/or living in care. On average, 26% of students are PP. I was a PP student in a school with just 5% of those like me. I was a PP student at a university where just 3% of those like me. Non PP students are twice as likely to go to university as PP students, which shows the long term effects of childhood poverty in life outcomes. When I was in any educational institution growing up, I had a real affinity to bond with those who knew strife and I aim to continue to serve those going through struggles today.

Since beginning my teaching career, I have taught in schools with PP rates at 44% and 32%, comfortably above the National average. Before students can develop a thirst for learning, they must worry about solving the hunger in their stomachs. Before students tackle 3 double periods of intense studying, they must worry about where their 3 full meals are coming from. Before they put their hand up to answer a question, they must worry about whether the rumbling of their belly will be louder than the conviction in their answer. I know these worries because I’ve been there myself. Younger me wore my financial status as a mark of shame, today I wear it as a badge of honour.

Being a staunch Arsenal fan, it pains me to say how much Marcus Rashford inspired me before I’d even stepped into my first classroom on my own as Mr Path. The fact that he had no responsibility to help feed hungry school kids but went on to hold the government to account over Free School Meals opened my eyes. Regardless of whether he plays 90 mins a week and scores a 30 yard banger top bins or misses an open goal, I will always know that he lit the fire inside of me to give back to school kids.

In my short teaching career, I have converted many teachers and students to the 3 wonders of the world. Mutton rolls, my cinnamon pancakes and Biscoff. My classroom has become a haven for hungry students who can come and grab a pancake during break, lunch or after school. I am sometimes endearingly known as ‘Mr Pathcake’ (when I’m not being called ‘Mr PsychoPath’). 6 years in, it’s time to stop doing it ad hoc, for me to formalise it and to make it a community project.

My aim is to raise £100 a month, every month. 2/3 of that money will go to pancakes and 1/3 to the Biscoff spread. That will end up being around 700 pancakes and 3kg of spread. You can give as little or as much as you like, every 10p provides one student with a pancake. The goal is to help students suffering from food poverty, one pancake at a time!

Thank you for reading this far and let’s see where this journey takes us!

Kind regards,

Mr Path