Ahead of the Class - Couverture souple

The transformation that Marie Stubbs effected at St George's, the inner London comprehensive that had gone into steep decline after the murder of its head teacher Philip Lawrence outside the school gates in 1995, was hailed as a national example of good practice.

Teachers had been fearful of leaving the staffroom at break; stealing and absenteeism were rife. After fifteen months, children were turning up early to have breakfast and the classrooms were full.

This is the story of its remarkable turnaround - through conviction, imagination, old-fashioned discipline and modern management techniques. In an era where so many problems seem intractable, it brings genuine hope.

Brilliant, moving, extremely funny and triumphant. I really bit my nails throughout as to whether the school would be saved (Jilly Cooper)

It is a story of triumph over adversity through determination and hard work. (Independent)

Enormously cheering... Vivacious and spirited (John Carey, Sunday Times)

She has the sort of optimism that tends to become a self-fulfilling prophecy (Scotsman)

Meeting this headmistress was more scary than climbing into the ring with Mike Tyson! (Frank Bruno)