We are the plumbers we've been waiting for

Lord Putnam's rally-call We Are The People We Have Been Waiting For concludes that a rich and worthwhile education equally values academic and non-academic success.Top fee-paying schools excel here. State schools generally don't or can't. But my plumber can and does.

My boiler broke last week. A. arrived to fix it. A. is an exemplar teacher and learner with a growth mindset. He also has a strong musical intelligence, leadership skills and an internal/external auditory learning style. He has a love of and a pride in his work, modelling the flow state. I didn't tell him all that, but I couldn't miss it. Evidence? Evidence:

• A. made three visits, one out of hours, insisting on cracking my non-obvious boiler problem
• A. sings on the job and self talks as he works through fault diagnosis
• A. calls manufacturers when he needs further technical information - shouts at them too
• A. enthusiastically and unbidden explains to me how the bolier works and why it's doomed
• A. is lead guitarist for an in-demand tribute band
• A. races, builds and maintains remote control cars
• A. insists on solving a problem
• A. is totally comfortable in his own skin

I'm getting him back to fit a descaler. I know I'm going to wind up asking about his time at school. I'm really trying hard not to predict what he's going to say....