Rosemary Sutcliff started school at ten, left at fourteen, but was a lifelong learner

Rosemary Sutcliff, distinguished writer of children’s books and historical fiction, was rightly described as ‘impish’ and ‘irreverent’ by The Guardian when she died. But partly because she was playful, she was a learner all her life.

“When the playful me shows up, I am ready to be a serious learner … a culture of playfulness is closely related to the capacity to learn.”

• Roland Barthes, quoted by Jeni Smith, author of new blog The Heart of Teaching
• More on Rosemary Sutcliff’s Life and Work here