The School

Judges' Comments 

The School presents a year in the life of a single high school from the point of view of a school teacher. Drawing on Murray’s own experiences in the classroom, this is an important and timely book on the subject of education and disadvantage.  

The students we encounter in The School are kids who are often marginalised in media depictions. Here, we hear their voices and see them interact with each other and their teacher in the ecology of the school. This book is also a considerable literary achievement. It’s rare to encounter a work of immersive narrative non-fiction that is so poised and assured.