I was on the PGCE course for junior and middle school teachers that Jennifer Nias taught at Liverpool University in 1974-75. Subsequently she interviewed me for her study of 50 former teacher training students.
A post-grad course concerned with teaching younger children was itself unusual; so was Jennifer.
Some on the course, which included a week in Yorkshire to observe outstanding practice, thought she worked us hard, and she could be quite austere at times. However, her passion for education was undeniable. Keen to recruit a diverse group, she took a close interest in each of us.
She expected high standards and, after observing a disastrous lesson by me, kindly told me: “I’ve seen worse”, rather spoiling it by then adding “but not many.”
