The School Inspector Calls A Little Village School Novel Synopsis
The third Little Village School novel Summer has arrived in Barton-in-the-Dale and as a new term begins at the little primary school, it's not just the warm weather that's getting people hot under the collar. Meetings with the teachers from Urebank School to discuss the merger are producing more than a few fireworks, a disruptive new pupil arrives, set to cause trouble, and a surprising staff love affair is exposed. There's also a big school production of The Wizard of Oz to organise as well as an impending visit from the Minister of Education. Headteacher Elisabeth Devine certainly has her work cut out for her. And that's just some of the drama set to shake-up the village. Throw in a sprinkling of secrets, shocking revelations, old flames, new liaisons, psychics, weddings and misfortune ...There's plenty to gossip about this term.
Packed with delightful and authentic characters, juicy gossip, precarious romance and good old-fashioned village drama, this is a warm-hearted and hilarious account of a struggling school in a small community. Good Book Guide
A worthy successor to James Herriot, and every bit as endearing. Alan Titchmarsh
Written with all the humour and warmth one has come to expect from this master storyteller. Countryman As Yorkshire's favourite school inspector turns to fiction you can enjoy memorable characters and turns of phrase. Choice
Author
About Gervase Phinn
Gervase Phinn taught in a range of schools for fourteen years until, in 1984, he became General Adviser for Language Development in Rotherham. Four years later he was appointed Senior General Inspector for English and Drama with North Yorkshire County Council and was subsequently made Principal Adviser for the county. He is now a freelance lecturer and adviser, and Visiting Professor of Education at the University of Teesside.
He has lectured widely in this country and has published many articles on the use of English in education. He has published collections of his own plays and stories and has contributed to several anthologies; his own anthology of poems, Classroom Creatures, has also been published.
Gervase Phinn is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is widely sought after as a speaker and recently was an immediate star on Esther Rantzen's television show, Esther, appearing a second time due to public demand. He is married with four children and lives in a village just outside Doncaster.
