Introduction

2. Introduction • Mention the name of the book and the name of the author • Describe Mrs Kay, what do the children think about her • Reilly says about Mrs Kay “You’re ace miss.” • The headteacher says about Mrs Kay: “I get the impression she sees education as one long game.” • Describe Mr Briggs, what are our first impressions of him • Les says about Mr Briggs: “Arrogant get, that one is” • Mention how different they are

3. Firstly, I am going to describe Mrs Kay’s and Mr Briggs’s relationship with the pupils • Write about how Mrs Kay treats the children – she is friendly, and has a laugh and a joke with them • “Mrs Kay smiles at her and links her arm.” • “Mrs Kay has taken off her shoes and has her stockinged feet curled up under her. Carol has her arm linked through Mrs Kay’s and is snuggled up to her – they look more like mother and daughter than teacher and pupil. • “Mrs Kay is paddling, dress held above her knees.” How does the quote show us she is friendly and willing to have a laugh and a joke with the children

4. Mr Briggs on the other hand is… • Describe the way Mr Briggs is with the children, that he is much more formal like a typical teacher, he shouts at them more. • “Sit down now, move!” • “Don’t’ you ‘what’ me, young lady.” Explain how that quote shows he is more formal and shouts at them more

5. While Mrs Kay… • Show that Mrs Kay understands the difficulties the kids in the Progress Class face and she is sympathetic towards them • “It’s a shame really isn’t it, eh? You know, we bring them to a crumbling pile of bricks and mortar and they think they’re in the fields of heaven.” Explain how that quote shows that Mrs Kay understands and has sympathy for the children and their lives Mr Briggs is the opposite and doesn’t understand the difficult lives of the children

6. Mr Briggs • Write about how Mr Briggs doesn’t understand the children’s difficult lives. • “Your father goes out to sea, does he?” • “At the back the kids are all stifled and bored by Briggs’s presence.” Explain how the quote shows that Mr Briggs doesn’t understand the children’s difficult lives

7. Mrs Kay and Mr Briggs differ again when it comes to rules. Mrs Kay… • Write about Mrs Kay’s approach to rules, does she have many? • “That’s the only rule we have today; think of yourselves, but think of others as well.” What does this quote show us about Mrs Kay’s approach to rules?

8. Mr Briggs, contrastingly,… • Write about Mr Briggs’s approach to rules, does he have many? • “But a lot of you kids haven’t been on a school trip before so you won’t know how to behave. So I’ll tell you.” How does this quote show Mr Briggs’s attitude to rules?

9. Secondly, I intend to explore both teachers’ opinions on discipline. • Write about what Mrs Kay believes (that children should be allowed freedom and to do things on their own) • “Ooh…leave them…They’ll want to stretch their legs and let off a bit of steam.” How does this quote show that Mrs Kay believes the children should be allowed freedom and to do things on their own.

10. Mr Briggs’s view differs from Mrs Kay’s… • Write about whether Mr Briggs agrees the children should be trusted • “To be quite honest, Mrs Kay I think we should all be inside, looking after them. Do you think it was wise just letting them all pour in there at once?” • Explain how the quote shows Mr Briggs doesn’t believe the children should be trusted.

11. In the end we see that… • Say whether Mrs Kay or Mr Briggs is proved right. • “As the orders are shouted, the KIDS are robbing stuff left, right and centre – the usual trick but the two men are falling for it.” • Say how this shows Mr Briggs is right

12. Thirdly, I am going to look at Mrs Kay’s and Mr Briggs’s opinions about the point of school trips. • Write about Mrs Kay’s opinion about the point of school trips for the children in the progress class. • “I’m not going to let you prevent the kids from having some fun.” • Explain how this quote shows what she thinks the point of school trips are for the progress class and why she thinks this.

13. Mr Briggs has different beliefs when it comes to school trips for the progress class. • Explain what Mr Briggs believes is the point of school trips for the progress class. • “…if they’re going to have a good and stimulating day then it’s got to be planned and executed better than this.” • “But I thought this trip was organised so that the kids could see Conwy Castle?” • Explain how your quote shows his view of school trips for the progress class and how they are different from Mrs Kay.

14. By the end of the play however, we see a change in Mr Briggs. • Explain how Mr Briggs changes towards the end of the play when he realises how difficult life is for these children. • “Anyway, you can’t come all the way to the seaside and not pay a visit to the fair.” • Briggs is snapped eating candy-floss, then again at the highest point of the big wheel.” • Explain how the quote shows what Mr Briggs is like at the end, what is the change in him.

15. Finally, I intend to discuss Mrs Kay’s and Mr Briggs’s teaching styles. • Explain what Mr Briggs’s opinion of Mrs Kay is. • “She always reminds me of a mother hen rather than a teacher.” • “There are times when I really think you’re on their side.” • “She thinks I can’t see through all this woolly headed liberalism….I can’t see why she has to set herself up as the great champion of the non-academics” • Explain how the quote shows us what Mr Briggs thinks of Mrs Kay and her teaching style.

16. Mrs Kay thinks that it is not worth teaching the kids in the ‘Progress Class’ • Why does Mrs Kay think it’s not worth teaching these children. • “You won’t educate them because no one wants them educating.” • “There’s nothing for them to do, any of them; most of them were born for factory fodder but the factories have closed down.” • Explain how the quotes show that the children are not worth educating.

17. Mr Briggs disagrees with Mrs Kay as he believes that they should try to educate the children, not be their friend • Why does Mr Briggs think it’s important to try and educate the children and not be their friend. • “I think you have to risk being disliked if you’re going to do any good for these type of kids” • How does this show Mr Briggs thinks it’s important to try and teach the children • Whose opinion do you most agree with and why.

18. Conclusion • Which character (Mrs Kay or Mr Briggs) do you like best and why? • Which teacher you think is best for the ‘Progress Class’. Why?