What book is this?

[Dogdaywoes]

I know Mumsnet loves a "name that book" thread, so I'm hoping this passes muster!

Book read in secondary school (around 2000) I think, as part of the curriculum (but I could be wrong). Could also actually be a play and not a book. I know I'm useless.

It's set, at least partly, in a boys school. Possibly a boarding school. One of the 'house masters' lives locally or onsite with his wife. Feels like it's set mid 50s, or possibly even written then. The house masters wife describes one of the boys a a Lamby (as in little lamb). I think there's a school play in it.

That's it. That's all I can remember 😅 good luck!

I seem to remember that when the school masters wife calls the school a boy a lamby, it's suggested she fancies him a bit.

Unman, Wittering and Zigo.

I think she refers to her husband as lambie or similar.

Temporary teacher starts halfway through the year at a boys' school. Previous teacher died ... according to his class, he was murdered. By them!

wow that rings a bell for me! I can’t remember anything about the plot but that title is very familiar. I wonder if we did an excerpt from it at school alongside reading lord of the flies or similar - sounds like the plots slightly complement each other.

Yes!!!

My god Mumsnet is good.

And yes @Talipesmum I think it was during the lord of the flies part of school.

I can't believe that someone actually got it from my awful description. I didn't remember the murder or death or anything until I read the synopsis on Wikipedia.

I used to teach it!