BARNEY HARWOOD:Now this, is my kind of book. It's called The Demon Headmaster, and once you've read it, you'll never forget it. And why?
BARNEY HARWOOD:Well, because it's just about the weirdest school you can imagine. And if you don't believe me, ask Dinah. She's the star of the story, and she discovers, on the first day of her new school just how strange it really is.
BARNEY HARWOOD:Take the children, they're super tidy, they have perfectly combed hair, and smooth ties. They don't laugh, or play games, or shout. In fact they don't do anything. They just work, all the time. And they march around the school in lines, like robots.
BARNEY HARWOOD:Only a few pupils seem normal. Of course, there's Dinah, but also, her new foster-brothers, Lloyd and Harvey. Maybe that's why the headmaster hates them. Good point. Oh yeah the headmaster, where you do start with him? He's horrible. He's the strangest of the lot. He's tall, thin, his hair is white, his skin is white.
BARNEY HARWOOD:But his glasses, they're black, like these. And it seems that everyone, I mean everyone… is terrified of him.
BARNEY HARWOOD:Everybody remembers their first day at school. You're nervous, you don't know anybody, and there's that funny smell. But when you compare the experience to Dinah's, We all had it pretty easy.
BARNEY HARWOOD:This is a brilliant mystery story, I love them, and just when you think you know what's gonna happen, The author goes, "Ha ha, fooled ya!" But the great thing about this book, is that you get to be a detective alongside Dinah, Lloyd and Harvey. And you actually try and work out what the Demon Headmaster's terrible plan is. Scary that weren't it (!)
BARNEY HARWOOD:Just imagine the Demon Headmaster staring at you with these big, dark holes where his eyes should be. But when he invited Dinah to his office to take a test, this is exactly how he watched her. Now this is my favourite part in the story where Dinah meets the Headmaster… for the first time.
BARNEY HARWOOD:"The Headmaster did not seem in any hurry to get rid of her. He crumpled the test paper in his hand, and dropped it, into the rubbish bin. Then slowly, he reached up a hand, to take off his glasses.
BARNEY HARWOOD:Dinah found herself shivering. Ridiculously she expected him to have pink eyes, because the rest of his face was so colourless. Or perhaps no eyes at all. But his eyes were not pink. They were large and luminous, and a peculiar sea-green colour. She'd never seen eyes like them before. And she found herself staring into them.
BARNEY HARWOOD:Staring, and staring. 'Funny you should be so tired.' He said softly. 'So early in the morning?'
BARNEY HARWOOD:She opened her mouth to say that she was not tired, but to her surprise, she yawned instead. 'So tired.' crooned the Headmaster. His huge, extraordinary eyes fixed on her face.
BARNEY HARWOOD:'You can hardly move your arms and legs, you are so tired. So tired. You feel your head begin to nod, and slowly, slowly… your eyes are starting to close. So tired and sleepy.' 'He's mad.' Dinah thought muzzily. 'The whole school's raving mad.' But, she felt her eyes start to close. In spite of all she could do, she was drifting.
BARNEY HARWOOD:Drifting. All she could see was two pools, deep green like the sea. And she seemed to sink into them, as she drifted off… and off."
BARNEY HARWOOD:Wow, that was weird. Okay, so what about the other pupils? Well, Dinah gets no help from them at all. Every time she asks questions about the school, all they say is… "The Headmaster is a marvellous man, and this is the best school I've ever been to."
BARNEY HARWOOD:Again, and again, and again, and again, and again. And soon, even Dinah finds herself saying it. Is she being controlled by the Demon Headmaster too?
BARNEY HARWOOD:One thing I really like to do, is read the same book as a friend. You can find out which parts they found exciting, or frightening. Did they laugh at the same bits as you? And the great thing about it is, that you can read the same book, but have a completely different experience. And unlike the Demon Headmaster's robot pupils, you can think for yourselves.
BARNEY HARWOOD:If you like a mystery like me, or whether you like a story that makes you laugh, or gives you the shivers. Out of the thousands of great books out there, you get to choose which one you're gonna read next.
BARNEY HARWOOD:Dinah, Lloyd and Harvey are gonna have to work together if they're gonna fight back against the Headmaster. That's if he doesn't get to them first. But it won't be easy becau–
BARNEY HARWOOD:Because the Demon Headmaster, always seems to know everything you're thinking. I think I better finish this at home.
Video summary
Presenter Barney Harwood reads extracts from 'The Demon Headmaster' by Gillian Cross (cover illustrated by Tuesday Mourning).
He explains why it’s his favourite children’s book, how it captured his imagination and why he loves to read.
The book follows a young girl called Dinah on her first day at school. Dinah quickly realises there is something very strange about the school as the students all appear to be hypnotised by a sinister headmaster with dark-tinted glasses.
This clip is from the series Bringing Books to Life 1.
The Demon Headmaster Teacher Notes
KS1 and KS2 English Discussion Questions
Before watching the video:
- What do you think the word 'demon' means? Have you heard it before?
- Do you enjoy reading mystery or adventure books? Why or why not?
- Can you describe your very first day at school? What was it like for you?
While watching the video:
- Pause at 02:20 - Why does Barney say he likes reading mystery stories?
- Pause at 04:28 seconds - How does Barney describe the headmaster's eyes?
- Pause at 04:45 seconds - What do the pupils say to Dinah when she asks questions?
After watching the video:
- What was Barney's favourite part of the book and why did he find it interesting?
- Would you like to read The Demon Headmaster after hearing Barney talk about it? Why or why not?
- How do you think you would feel if you were in the same school as Dinah, Lloyd and Harvey?
KS1 and KS2 English Activity Suggestions
- Design Your Own Demon Headmaster: Encourage children to use their creativity to design their version of the Demon Headmaster. They can draw, paint or create a representation of what they imagine this character to look like.
- Plot Twist Planning: Challenge the children to think creatively and brainstorm some surprising plot twists for stories, taking inspiration from the unexpected events in mystery stories like The Demon Headmaster.
- Trance Dance: Encourage children to choreograph a sequence of expressive dance movements inspired by the Demon Headmaster's hypnotic powers, experimenting with different interpretations of being hypnotised.
Take a look at our 500 Words resources for further inspiration around story writing.
These videos contribute to the current national curriculum requirements in:
- England - KS1/KS2 English: Develop positive attitudes to reading and understanding of what they read.
- Northern, Ireland - KS1/KS2 Language and Literacy: Extend the range of their reading and develop their own preferences.
- Scotland - 1st and 2nd Level Literacy and English: Reading - Enjoyment and choice.
- Wales - Progression Step 2/3 Languages, Literacy and Communication: Literature fires imagination and inspires creativity.
These discussion questions and activity suggestions provide opportunities to develop english and art and design knowledge and skills in meaningful contexts across all UK curricula, as well as dance, drama and performing arts.
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