Tales from the Head's Room: Life in a London Primary School

Mike Kent

May 2011 · Bloomsbury Publishing

About this eBook

When Mike Kent started teaching over half a century ago there was no national curriculum, no testing and schools were inspected, briefly, once in a blue moon. Mike has watched primary education spiral through enormous changes over the decades. Some changes have been worthwhile. Many have not. But if he is unhappy with a new initiative, or irritated by an incomprehensible directive from the men in suits, he'll do what he does best... pick up his pen and share it with his readers in a witty, whimsical way. This collection of articles from Mike Kent's popular weekly column in the TES covers a whole range of amusing incidents about daily life in a busy London primary school. From the fire officer who called the children's display work 'hazardous wall substances', to the class that caused the alarm to go off at Hampton Court and the burglar who stayed to play with a train set, Mike's anecdotes chronicle the trials and tribulations of modern primary headship.

About the author

Mike Kent, now retired, wass Headteacher of Comber Grove Primary School in South London, UK and Lead Columnist at the TES. Mike has worked in primary education for over 50 years, and is a trainer for the National College of School Leadership.

Gerard Kelly has been Editor of the Times Educational Supplement (TES) since June 2008.