This is a must-read for all educators. Truly Great Primary Teachers drives home the importance of the purposeful relationships that sit at the heart of great teaching. It also celebrates the individual identity that each teacher brings to the classroom. John has beautifully told each teacher’s story, creating a window into their world, whilst connecting the reader to the teacher’s colleagues and pupils in the interwoven interviews. Rarely does a book share the raw realities of day-to-day teaching, whilst detailing the personal motivations that drive teachers to teach. It is both a privilege and a joy to read something that reminds us all why teaching is such a great profession and how truly great teachers make a difference to young people’s lives by making their classrooms places where learning is irresistible.

I’m a simple soul and I’m always looking for ways to bring abstract ideas like ‘quality first teaching’ to life. Terms like these are talked about a lot; rarely are they exemplified. What John has done in Truly Great Primary Teachers is to identify and profile the work of individual teachers to help me to get some purchase on QFT. As I read these accounts of teachers who are having a profound impact on their pupils both academically and personally, I realised I can learn from each of them: the way they develop rapport with their classes, the way they pitch the lessons high, the way they include every child. And, above all, the delight they take in weaving it all together. This is such a heart-warming, unique lens on the profession. We can all take something from these wonderful profiles of brilliant professionals.

This is a book for everybody interested in improving the lived experience of pupils in the classroom. From system leaders to those just stepping out into the early stages of their career, Truly Great Primary Teacherstells the story of how teachers change lives. Pupils from low-income backgrounds are typically more sensitive to the quality of education they experience. In the classroom, for me, this is about the triumvirate of strong subject knowledge, expert pedagogy and the understanding of childhood coupled with the ability to build strong relationships with and between pupils. It is the building and securing of relationships with pupils, who may be experiencing a range of academic and social challenges, all within the exposed environment of the classroom, that makes teachers truly special. This book brings to life how teachers have a profound impact on learners and their colleagues. It tells a story of what makes a truly great teacher.

Truly Great Primary Teachers explores the multifaceted nature of effective teaching and considers how it can be measured. The book highlights how truly great teachers are committed to reflective practice and continuous learning, creating environments where pupils thrive academically and socially. The influence of these highly effective practitioners extends beyond measurable test scores; they cultivate a genuine love for learning, as well as confidence, resilience, intrinsic drive and curiosity in their pupils – all of which are harder to quantify, but vitally important. Through first-hand examples, John illustrates how high-quality pedagogy, coupled with a focus on personal growth, empowers pupils to grasp complex concepts that contribute to them making great progress in their learning at levels that they, themselves, hardly thought possible.

In Truly Great Primary Teachers, John Tomsett captures the human element of what makes great teachers ‘truly great’. Through detailed profiles and personal anecdotes, we are provided with a fascinating look at their unique approaches to teaching and learning, their commitment to continuous improvement and, most importantly, what it is like to be a pupil in their classroom. We experience the dedication and passion of these inspiring individuals who make such a difference to the communities they are part of and can fully appreciate the thought processes behind the successes they achieve with their children.