Pupils make essential distinctions between teachers who have the patience to explain and those who tell them simply ‘to get on with it’. Those who have time for individuals and are able to enlighten the whole class are rated highly.

“I get stuck and muddled. Then I try to work it out and if I can’t, I go to Mrs Jones - then she helps me.”

Emma, 10

“If you still don’t understand you can go up to her and she explains it. Like fractions or anything. Now I do, because she shows you. ”

Yasmin, 11

“When we are finding it difficult she talks a lot to the whole class.”

Tom, 10

“She just says, ‘get on with what you were doing last week!’ If you don’t know what to do and you go up to her she says, ‘Go and sit down!’. She never talks to us. She’s always writing.”

Kylie, 11

The children’s names have been changed