We are grateful to 'Mr Read' and Continnum for the opportunity to publish a series of excerpts from this book:

How Not To Teach: Diary of an Urban Primary Teacher
'Mr Read'
Continnum
£12.99

Mr Read is a teacher in Merseyside and regularly writes for the TES.


Job Description & Reality


* Idyllic rural location = Miles from anywhere

* Dynamic, innovative and creative teacher wanted = The head's a slave driver 

* Must be resourceful and independent = You'll never see the head

* Stable group of staff = They're all over 50 and can't wait to retire

* NQTs welcome = We've got no money 

* Improving school = Failed Ofsted 

* Child-centred school= No longer applies 

* Expanding school = Huge classes 

* Must have good interpersonal skills = The last teacher was hated by all the staff  

* ...would be an advantage = ...absolutely essential  

* Good sense of humour an advantage = The head's mad 

* Must have good organizational skills = You'll be filling in forms every night 

* Experienced teacher required = We've had a load of NQTs who couldn't hack it

Challenging inner-city school = Fort Apache - the Bronx 

* The Ofsted Report highlighted many strengths... = Whatever you do, don't read the whole report

* High parental involvement = You can never get rid of them after school

* Children sometimes display challenging behaviour = The kids are out of control 

* We have a strict discipline code = See above