Lancashire teacher's novel 'Head Hunted' provides new view of school

Former teacher John Poulton did not have to look far for the inspiration for his new book.
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A former Preston teacher has gone back to school for his new book.

John Poulton's long career in the classroom provided perfect reference material when it came to writing his second novel 'Head Hunted'.

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John, from Hoghton, hopes it will not only entertain readers but also convey some of the sheer fun of the classroom.

John Poulton pictured with his new book    Photo: Neil CrossJohn Poulton pictured with his new book    Photo: Neil Cross
John Poulton pictured with his new book Photo: Neil Cross

After teaching for some 10 years at Corpus Christi High School in Fulwood, the 61 year old spent another decade at Holy Cross High School at Chorley before retiring in 2018.

His just published book tells the story of the search for a new head at a fictional school, Brockholme, located in Lancashire's Bowland AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).

He said: “It took me two years to write and edit the book. Then again, you could say I spent years researching it working in schools in Lancashire and Manchester.”

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The novel seeks to discover whether "the class act or class clown" will get the top job with the aspirants for the post including "a devout Catholic, a company man and an underdog". At times the year long search for the new head descends into farce.

Three books by John PoultonThree books by John Poulton
Three books by John Poulton

John said: "The school has a wide-ranging cast of characters including anarchic children, strange priests, uncooperative teachers, and a malevolent school caretaker."

In real life John, who taught religious education and theatre studies, and latterly social, moral and cultural education, says he absolutely relished his teaching role. The father of one had worked as a telephone engineer before returning to education in his early 20s, taking a theology degree in Southampton prior to training as a teacher at the University of Cambridge. Earlier in his career he taught in schools in Manchester and near Bolton.

He said: “For all the difficulties and trials of the teaching profession, I feel lucky to have spent so much time in the classroom and staff room, revelling in the sheer joy of it all. I could have written a memoir, but I’ve chosen to put the fun across in a novel set in an imaginary school.”

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He continued: "I was an RE teacher and it comes with negative baggage sometimes - to make that interesting and fun was a key part of the success I've had and I thoroughly enjoyed it."

Farewell to the classroom: John Poulton and Year 11 pupils  from Holy Cross High posed for this photo as the students prepared to leave high schoolFarewell to the classroom: John Poulton and Year 11 pupils  from Holy Cross High posed for this photo as the students prepared to leave high school
Farewell to the classroom: John Poulton and Year 11 pupils from Holy Cross High posed for this photo as the students prepared to leave high school

The book contains some criticisms of the education world, but also highlights its humour. In his blog he acknowledges: "Working alongside so many wonderful colleagues and teaching thousands of brilliant youngsters was a privilege. And it was such a laugh. Of course, it wasn’t all fun. There was always some amount of stress, anger, and conflict. But when I look back, what strikes me is how many good times we had. It was a blast, and that is the heart and soul of the book."

John said he has always written but mostly it was learning materials for his pupils. His first non-educational work was a memoir of his early life entitled 'Missing The Bus' written for his mum. He said: "I wrote for my mother as a Christmas present - that was well received. She was a captive audience!"

Following that he wrote a novel homing in on a subject close to his heart. A former chair of and trustee of The Rwanda Group Trust, which ran a charity shop in Avenham in Preston, he wrote a novel set in Rwanda during the time of genocide. The book ‘The Luck of the Crane’, won John a Quagga Literary Prize in 2016, an award for previously unpublished writers. It sold a few hundred copies in America and the UK.

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John then published a short theological textbook entitled 'Atheists for Jesus. Jesus for atheists.' It was born out of discussions with friends about known historical facts about Jesus. He said: "I did it for fun really. Writing is my hobby."

He said wife Anne, a librarian has, he said, been a great help: "My wife has been very supportive and does help with the editing - because she's a librarian books are very much her thing. She'll say there's a gap in the plot."

He spends time helping care for his father, a role shared with his sister. Other hobbies, time allowing, include learning the classical guitar and cycling, walking and travelling. He is also a singer and songwriter and has played in several bands.

It is now more than two years since John retired and he said: “I just thought John it's time to say goodbye and move on. I still miss the people I worked with. The joys, laughs and sorrows shared with colleagues and, definitely, the rapport with pupils. The book is a fond farewell to those years.”

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'Head Hunted' is self published and available on Amazon(£10.99) and Amazon Kindle (£2.21). John is also getting some copies published locally and they will be available at a price of around £8 via his blog and website.

See John's blog at www.shouldigo2.com

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