The School Run

Six adults all leading different lives. Stay-at-home mum, Harriet, spends her days in a constant worry her husband will leave her. Evie thought she was bossing the work-life balance until she's given a week to save her job. Pippa hasn't felt like herself lately and a dreaded doctor's appointment has her thinking the worst. Widower Nick feels in over his head trying to raise a grieving seventeen-year-old daughter. Martine is the ultimate professional, au pairing for two kids she adores (even if the parents drive her crazy!), but little do they know she divides her time with a secret lover. Losing her son in a tragic accident has left Betty with wounds that refuse to heal. But every morning, they share one thing in common: they all endure the same manic rush to drop the kids off at school. And after unexpectedly running into each other at the school gates, the following week becomes a collision course, connecting their lives in more ways than one... A brilliantly engaging and relatable read for any parent who dreads the morning alarm to brace the school run, perfect for fans of Gill Sims, Kristen Bailey and Carmen Reid.

When a group of mothers takes the competition for private schooling too far, the consequences are deadly, in this twisting tale of secrets and betrayal, perfect for fans of Big Little Lies and One of Us is Dead. Every year, the reputable Queensland institution of St. Ignatius, affectionately called Iggy, hosts a Gala Day. This battle of brains and brawn, where 11-year-olds vie for a spot inside those hallowed ivory walls, directly affects admissions and determines the path of each and every candidate. But in the cutthroat environment of elite academia, three mothers will stop at nothing to see their boys succeed. As Gala Day draws near, one scholarly prospect is struck down in a hit-and-run, and as whispers escalate to accusations, scandals and lies unravel until the only question on everyone’s mind is: who will be left standing? Exploring the dark side of motherhood and the fierce competition that destroys close-knit communities, this chilling descent into the dangers of suburbia will thrill fans of Lisa Jewell and Andrea Bartz.

The seventeenth-century Hindi classic treasured for its subtle and beautiful portrayal of divine and erotic love’s pleasures and sorrows. The seven hundred poems of the Hindi poet Biharilal’s Satsai weave amorous narratives of the god Krishna and the goddess Radha with archetypal hero and heroine motifs that bridge divine and worldly love. He Spoke of Love brims with romantic rivalries, clandestine trysts, and the bittersweet sorrow of separated lovers. This new translation presents four hundred couplets from the enduring seventeenth-century classic, showcasing the poet’s ingenuity and virtuosity.

The remarkable true story of the high school junior who started his own school—and earned acclaim nationwide—“will make you laugh, cry and cheer” (John Merrow, author of The Influence of Teachers). Samuel Levin, a teenager who had already achieved international fame for creating Project Sprout—the first farm-to-school lunch program in the United States—was frustrated with his own education, and saw disaffection among his peers. In response, he lobbied for and created a new school based on a few simple ideas about what kids need from their high school experience. The school succeeded beyond anyone’s wildest expectations and went on to be featured on NPR and in Newsweek and the Washington Post. Since its beginnings in 2010, the Independent Project serves as a national model for inspiring student engagement. In creating his school, Samuel collaborated with Susan Engel, the noted developmental psychologist, educator, and author—and Samuel’s mother. A School of Our Own is their account of their life-changing year in education, a book that combines poignant stories, educational theory, and practical how-to advice for building new, more engaging educational environments for our children.

This is the definitive guide to successful school management and leadership for headteachers and deputy heads, written by two practitioners with extensive knowledge of running schools. Focusing on the importance of management structures, the authors concentrate on strategic planning in finance, the curriculum, personnel, and the governors. Writing in an accessible and entertaining style, this comprehensive resource also provides invaluable advice on how headteachers can manage disparate groups in a coherent way, as well as offering strategies for managing staff performance.

A very smart cookie is doing the chasing in this sweet and funny twist on the classic tale. When a class leaves for recess, their just-baked Gingerbread Man is left behind. But he's a smart cookie and heads out to find them. He'll run, slide, skip, and (after a mishap with a soccer ball) limp as fast as he can because: "I can catch them! I'm their Gingerbread Man!" With help from the gym teacher, the nurse, the art teacher and even the principal, the Gingerbread Man does find his class, and he's assured they'll never leave him behind again. Teachers often use the Gingerbread Man story to introduce new students to the geography and staff of schools, and this fresh, funny twist on the original can be used all year long. Look for all of this hilarious Gingerbread Man's adventures: The Gingerbread Man Loose at School, The Gingerbread Man Loose on the Fire Truck, The Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas, The Gingerbread Man Loose at the Zoo, and The Gingerbread Man and the Leprechaun Loose at School!

One day, Mr. Keene called all the students and teachers together and said, "This is a fine, fine school! From now on, let's have school on Saturdays too." And then there was more. School all weekend. School on the holidays. School in the SUMMER! What was next . . . SCHOOL AT NIGHT? So it's up to Tillie to show her well-intentioned principal, Mr. Keene, that even though his fine, fine school is a wonderful place, it's not fine, fine to be there all the time.

'Funny and frank' DAWN O'PORTER Two mothers. Two daughters. One school place. Imogen and Lily are old friends - they've shared hangovers, unsuitable boyfriends and wild nights out together. But now they're mums, and their partying days are behind them. When a place comes up at one of the best primary schools in the area, both women want it for their daughters. From faking religious beliefs to bogus break-ups, Imogen and Lily will go to any lengths to secure the perfect school for their children - and so will all the other mothers. Will their friendship survive the strain? Will their marriages take the pressure? And when a sexy new vicar arrives on the scene, will the mothers' keep focus for long enough to keep their eyes on the prize? A hilarious, heartwarming read, perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Fiona Gibson.

Every morning, millions of families navigate the chaos of the school run. But for the Twinklenight family, it’s anything but ordinary. Embark on a whimsical ride with them as they tackle unexpected adventures and delightful detours, all while racing against the clock to reach those gleaming school gates. Join the Twinklenights and discover why their school run is unlike any other!

Cassandra LOVES school so much she never, ever wants to leave! Cassandra does not want to go home from school. She stays after the nice teacher leaves. She stays while the janitor with a tattoo mops the floors. She stays after the slightly scary principal turns off all the lights and goes home. She plays with the clay and reads until after dark, when her mom and dad realize she is missing and come in a panic to take her home. The next day, Cassandra gets up, eats breakfast, gets on her bike and heads off to school -- but it is Saturday and all the doors and windows are locked. So on her way back home she stops by the store and places an order. The next day she looks out the window to find her purchase has been delivered -- there is a brand-new red-brick school with a nice teacher, a slightly scary principal, and a janitor with tattoos in her very own backyard, so she can have school any time she likes! This story was written for Cassandra, a girl from Pickering, Ontario who said that the most interesting thing about her was that she LOVED school!