John
D Clare read Modern History at Oxford University,
graduating in 1974. He
has a Post-graduate Certificate in Specific Learning Difficulties.
He started his teaching career in a Special Centre for children
with brain damage in an inner city teaching unit, but went as Head of
History in 1979 to Greenfield School, County Durham, where he
eventually became
Deputy Headteacher (Raising Achievement).
Described
in Teaching History as 'the best
teacher out', he prefers the report from a previous Ofsted inspection - 'a
mixture of Jesus Christ, Laurence Olivier and Genghis Khan'.
He
is the author of
some
100 history textbooks, learning packs and children's history
books, which have been published in 19 countries and 17 different
languages. He has also
co-authored a children's bible.
John D Clare retired from Greenfield in 2010, but continued
to work, serving as an elected Councillor
for both Durham County Council (where he was the Council's 'Climate
Champion') and Great Aycliffe Town Council,
retiring fully in 2022. He
is a widower, with three grown up children and nine grandchildren.