Deep end

Chance encounters

Diary of a primary school teacher

It's not often that school crosses into home life - outside of marking. So, if I need to do planning or catch up on admin in the holidays, I'd sooner go into school for a few hours than bring it back. I savour the sound of silence in my classroom and get more done in two holiday hours than in the average working week.

Outside class, I occasionally bump into children on streets or in shops and that's OK. If you're out in the school area you're usually half expecting it. But I live a couple of miles away, so it was a bit weird once, when a familiar face caught my eye right next to my front door. It was a boy from my class, who was equally surprised and demanded to know what I was doing there.

It's funny when somebody knows where you live. I'll never forget my first parent consultations when a parent asked me if I still lived on my road. It was slightly unsettling but, after a few uncomfortable seconds, it turned out he had driven me home once. He had been a taxi driver, and I an overenthusiastic NQT about to start my new job.

Sometimes you walk into school/home situations. One fireworks night, I found myself at a display near the school. I didn't really mind but, after the 10th child or parent had come to say "Hello Miss Herbert", the novelty was certainly wearing off for my friends.

Oddly, I've never met a child or parent in a local bookshop or library. This doesn't mean they haven't been there just before me. This week I couldn't get a copy of Oliver Twist, our first half text, for love, loan or money.

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