This Much I Know About Truly Great Primary Teachers

John Tomsett has been a teacher since 1988 and a head teacher since 2003. He is head teacher at Huntington School, York. Tomsett writes a blog called 'This much I know ...' and is a regular contributor to the TES. He co-founded The Headteachers' Roundtable think tank and is a popular speaker on school leadership. He is determined to remain a classroom teacher, despite the demands of headship, and believes that developing truly great teaching is the main responsibility of all head teachers.

This is a book for everybody interested in improving the lived experience of pupils in the classroom. From system leaders to those just stepping out into the early stages of their career, Truly Great Primary Teachers tells the story of how teachers change lives. Pupils from low-income backgrounds are typically more sensitive to the quality of education they experience. In the classroom, for me, this is about the triumvirate of strong subject knowledge, expert pedagogy and the understanding of childhood coupled with the ability to build strong relationships with and between pupils. It is the building and securing of relationships with pupils, who may be experiencing a range of academic and social challenges, all within the exposed environment of the classroom, that makes teachers truly special. This book brings to life how teachers have a profound impact on learners and their colleagues. It tells a story of what makes a truly great teacher.Marc Rowland