“So many teachers feel isolated in their schools. We provided them with a place where they could talk about their worries or let off steam and exchange information. As teachers have come under more pressure from the Government, the forums have become a marvellous place for them to run away to.

“Only one in four teachers had access to the internet when we started, so the forums were designed very simply for people who had never used the internet before and I think that has helped keep them popular.

“The calibre of the community using the site is important too. There are some absolute idiots and troublemakers around but they are a minority. Most users are intelligent, good fun and very supportive of other teachers.”