
Let That Be a Lesson
A Teacher's Life in the Classroom
Ryan Wilson(Author)
Vintage (Publisher)
Published on 18. August 2022
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-1-5291-1370-9 (ISBN)
Description
'A frank, funny and long overdue ode to teachers and teaching' ADAM KAY
The malodorous horrors of Sports Day.
Bracing yourself for Parents' Evening.
Refereeing teenage relationship dramas...
From the age of eight, Ryan Wilson dreamed of being a teacher. This is the inside story of his time at the chalkface, from fresh-faced trainee with grand ideals to exhausted assistant head battling ever-changing demands.
It is a tribute, too, to the colleagues who befriended him and to the students who inspired him. Above all, it's about the lessons they taught him: how to be patient and resilient, how to live authentically and how to value every day.
'Hilarious, inspiring and so terrifyingly true' Lucy Kellaway
'Delightfully frank and funny' Jacqueline Wilson
'A hilarious love letter to teaching' Christie Watson
'Funny, sensitive and clever' Victoria Derbyshire
The malodorous horrors of Sports Day.
Bracing yourself for Parents' Evening.
Refereeing teenage relationship dramas...
From the age of eight, Ryan Wilson dreamed of being a teacher. This is the inside story of his time at the chalkface, from fresh-faced trainee with grand ideals to exhausted assistant head battling ever-changing demands.
It is a tribute, too, to the colleagues who befriended him and to the students who inspired him. Above all, it's about the lessons they taught him: how to be patient and resilient, how to live authentically and how to value every day.
'Hilarious, inspiring and so terrifyingly true' Lucy Kellaway
'Delightfully frank and funny' Jacqueline Wilson
'A hilarious love letter to teaching' Christie Watson
'Funny, sensitive and clever' Victoria Derbyshire
Reviews / Votes
Not just funny and constantly surprising - but touching, poignant and personal too -- Jeremy Vine A book spoken from the heart, the heart of a born teacher. In turns, honest, self-deprecating, enlightening, moving, and funny... This is a powerful and important book. -- Michael Morpurgo Brilliant... It's funny, it's profound and it's a cautionary tale -- Alastair Stewart Very funny * Independent * Laugh out loud funny - every teacher who reads it will cringe with empathy -- Laura McInerney This entertaining memoir of 10 eventful years at the chalkface further illuminates the debt of gratitude we owe teachers * The Bookseller *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Vintage Publishing
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
235 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5291-1370-9 (9781529113709)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Ryan Wilson
Let That Be a Lesson
'A frank, funny and long overdue ode to teachers and teaching' Adam Kay
E-Book
08/2021
Vintage Digital
€9.49
Available for download
Person
Ryan Wilson was born and grew up in Northern Ireland where knew from an early age that he wanted to be a teacher. Straight out of university, he did a PGCE at the age of twenty-one and, after his training, spent five years teaching in a comprehensive school in Essex before leaving for a Head of Department job in London. He loved every aspect of teaching - the planning, the kids, the colleagues, the material, even the marking - but after a decade of budget cuts, hyper-accountability and unsupportive governments Ryan eventually left teaching to go back to university and now works as a radio producer and reporter. He has written about education for the Guardian and the Times Educational Supplement, including taking on the mantle of the Guardian's Secret Teacher.