"The funniest and perhaps truest story about running a school that I have ever read" - Frank Muir
 
"No aspect of state primary education is sacred to the author. While we laugh at it, however, we might keep in mind some of the recently published research findings on education and social class. The author means us to." - Times Literary Review
 
"Harpole remains quite the best book on the English School System. Brilliantly observed by a battle scarred veteran of the front line." - Kenneth Baker, Secretary of State for Education
 
George Harpole is in his first term as Acting Head of Tampling St Nicholas Primary School. Determined to climb the career ladder the way ahead seems clear to teaching success. Little does he imagine that he'll be hampered by his honesty, fair mindedness and a genuine liking for the children in his care (and then there are his fellow teachers to consider). They all contribute to his downfall, or at least to the point where iron enters his soul...
 
"The idea was to write a sort of text book for teachers and to tell parents more about what goes on in primary schools. And there is just about everything here - free meals, hymn-signing, caretakers, the New Maths, school visits, log books etc. But Emma Foxberrow got out of hand and perhaps not so many readers take it seriously as about education. But some do and it has been said that all teachers whilst training should read it...Anyway it was all I wanted to say about a job I did for nine years before the war and for 21 years after it." - JL Carr