Knowledge Day, 1 September 2006

A good first day of school to every pupil, and to the teachers waiting in the yard.

The detail I had not expected, watching this for the second time, is the flowers. Not one or two — every child arrives with a bouquet, and by nine in the morning the teacher's desk has more than any vase could hold and the surplus is standing in buckets.

It is an unreasonable quantity of flowers and nobody has ever suggested reducing it.

A profession that is publicly given flowers by every child in the building on the same morning is a profession being told something. I hope it is heard.

A good year to everyone starting one today.