A wide-ranging memoir of life as a junior/ middle school teacher. The author takes us on a fascinating journey through his career from the naive young probationary teacher of the mid 1980s to the experienced Deputy Head of the early 2020s. He uses his collection of Academic Year diaries to transport us back to a date in October for each year of his career, and tells us about what was happening to him and his pupils and fellow teachers on that day. Using this method, he informs us not only about his own career ups and downs, but about the many educational changes that he and his colleagues had to try and implement and deal with. The introduction of the National Curriculum and SATs tests, the emergence of OFSTED, the Literacy Hour, 'Prevent' and teaching through the challenging Covid period are all covered, together with ongoing challenges such as career progression, running the School Council, teaching Sex Education, health and safety, pupil behaviour and curriculum development. Anyone with a background or interest in education will relate to the amusing anecdotes set in the classrooms, staffrooms, assembly halls and playgrounds of the three Hertfordshire schools the author worked in.
