Metalmiss

Look out for your pension and hang on to the Supply list - Professor Potter has built a robot teacher after a staff resignation leaves Pinkerton Primary bereft of the human version. Proving that no one is indispensable, this is child-centred writing at its best - not just an everyday story of school folk. We see the children at first afraid of their robot (who wouldn't be?) but they quickly discover and respond to her warmth and friendliness. This needs only the smallest tweak of adjustment to be an appropriate first story for any teacher with a new class. 'We' in turn squirm with delight at her flawless manipulation of the school inspector when he comes to visit.