A visit from J Grange: neurodiversity, strengths, and inspiring career pathways
Yesterday we welcomed motivational speaker and music producer J Grange to William Ford. J lives with dyspraxia and ADHD and visited our school to speak openly about his journey through education, including the challenges he faced growing up undiagnosed within the UK school system. He discussed the many exclusions, suspensions, and changes of setting he experienced, and how difficult this made his early education.
J also shared how these experiences shaped his successful career in motivational speaking and music production. He spoke about the strengths linked to ADHD that now support his work, including creativity, intensity of focus, and the drive to overcome challenges. Hearing how a diagnosis that once felt like a barrier is now central to his success helped pupils understand that their own attributes can become strengths in future careers.
During his tour of the school, J commented on how impressed he was with our provision for neurodivergent pupils. He said he wished he had gone to a primary school like ours and that his schooling could have been very different if he had experienced the approaches he saw here.
J led a lunchtime session with a small group of pupils who have ADHD or similar profiles. The focus was on confidence, strengths, and recognising positive traits. The pupils left feeling proud of who they are and encouraged about their futures.
He then led our whole school assembly, helping pupils understand neurodiversity within classrooms and families and encouraging them to support each other with understanding and respect. His parent workshop was well attended and created a safe space for families to discuss diagnosis, support, and lived experience. The day finished with staff training titled “What I wish my teachers knew,” which allowed us to reflect on good practice already in place and small adjustments that can make a meaningful difference.
J’s visit linked strongly to our careers-focused ethos and our vision to support pupils to be successful, healthy, fulfilled, and empowered to make a difference. His message helped pupils see that they are not alone in their educational journey and that support is available, especially here at William Ford.