The School Inspector Calls

by Gervase Phinn

Gervase Phinn's fond memoirs of life as a school inspector have shown his homeland of Yorkshire in a new and often hilarious light. Penguin have published each of Phinn's four books and in The School Inspector Calls, he reveals how even a jaded school inspector can be left speechless by straight-talking children.

Genres: Memoir, Short Stories, Autobiography, Nonfiction

58 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Gervase Phinn (born 27 December 1946, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England) is an English author and educator. After a career as a teacher he became a schools inspector.

He is now a freelance lecturer, broadcaster and writer, a consultant for the Open University, Honorary Fellow of St. John's College, York, Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) of the University of Leicester, Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) of The University of Hull and the Fellow and Visiting Professor of Education at The University of Teesside.

In 2005 the highest academic award of Sheffield Hallam University, Doctor of the University (D.Univ.) was conferred upon him by the Chancellor, Professor Lord Robert Winston. In 2006 he became President of The School Library Association.

He has published five volumes of memoir, collections of poetry and a number of books about education. He has a particular interest in children's literature and literacy.
He is married with four grown-up children.

Reviews

[Antonomasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penguin 70's booklet made up of several short chapters from the memoir series which I'd always taken to be like James Herriot, but with schools not animals. It's about twenty years now since I enjoyed the Herriot books so can't compare closely. The Phinn series seemed like something it was good to know was out there just in case that sort of book was needed - but on the basis of this, too much of it might be boring.

What's here is fairly cosy but certainly cliched. Too many descriptions stuffed with the most routine of adjectives. The narrator's character doesn't often have much that's interesting to say in conversation. There's too much about the other staff in the office, which might work okay on TV but was unexciting on the page. Scenes from an infant school were cloying. And if I were to read books like these, I'd want them, out of simple personal preference, to be set a bit longer ago - this is recent enough that staff gossip includes speculation that a PA has had a facelift.

A few bits and pieces were reasonably interesting. Hearing what goes on in the school inspectorate's office, e.g. they run courses as well as checking schools. A loveable eccentric old teacher, Mr Lapping, who'd spent his whole life in the same remote village, who turns out to be exemplary at his work and not above the odd bit of crafty politics as a retort for the not entirely welcome publicity and co-option onto working parties. And finally, the bit which decided this as 3 stars not two, a group in an A-Level English class putting on a genuinely amusing Yorkshire village version of Hamlet, Act I.

[Coenraad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gervase Phinn tells endearing, entrancing stories of his life as a school inspector in the Yorkshire school districts. His narration is straightforward, displaying a deep care for the people of all ages he encounters, from a young boy who is part of a complicated family and another who is worried about looking a prat in his costume, through a cleaning lady who rules her centre with an iron fist and bureaucratic individuals who take themselves too seriously to a teaching head teacher who has been doing his job excellently for decades and the much younger woman who becomes Phinn's wife. He uses true humour: amusement that does not deny the seriousness of life. The Yorkshire version of the opening of Hamlet in the final extract is a gem.

Phinn se vertellings uit sy jare as inspekteur van skole in Yorkshire is tegelyk snaaks, universeel herkenbaar en diepsinnig deernisvol. Sy liefde vir mense spreek uit al sy waarnemings. Die Yorkshire variant van die opening van Hamlet is kosbaar verby.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just the right length to be enjoyable. I have read one of this chap's books in full before now and it was a little too much winsomeness for my taste.

I arrived back at work the day after reading it to find that the school inspector had indeed called and we had two subject inspections later that week - I picked the wrong day to take off, whereas the person who gave me the book was prescient at best, or had a malign influence on events at worst.

[Steve Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very witty little book that demonstrates the natural humour of children. A semi-autobiographical account based upon his life as a school inspector.

[Lynn1953 · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK read but much preferred phinns other books based on his time as a school inspector

[Martin Raybould · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, down to earth Yorkshire humor in this light and light-hearted intro to some of the characters, young and old, a school inspector encounters.

[Charlotte Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

sweet

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a reluctant 3 stars! There were lots of irritating things about this book, not least not knowing what era it was set in, somethings (variety of coffees etc, posh shoes) which set it in current times, then there were other things (secretary getting her first computer!) which seemed to set it 20 year ago?? No mention of Ofsted, or any other hot educational topics!

Also, incredibly formal, everyone referred to as Mr or Mrs! In the school where I worked, everyone from the Head down to the caretakers and cleaners were called by first names, possibly Yorkshire is different? Otherwise its quite a nice story.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Will there be a 4th book??

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely story - so innocent!
Should definitely be made into a TV series.