In the 1950s, school inspections often took educators by surprise, with little to no advance notice provided. According to an account from Mary Southgate of South Hanningfield, Essex, when officials from His Majesty’s Inspectorate (HMI) arrived at primary schools, teachers quickly adapted their approach to inspections.

Southgate recalled that upon the arrival of an inspector, the headteacher would discreetly hand a pot plant to a nearby student with instructions to present it to every teacher. The appearance of the plant served as an informal signal for teachers to immediately switch to a pre-prepared lesson specifically designed for inspection.

This practice illustrates the subtle methods educators employed to respond to unannounced school visits during that era. Rather than risking exposure of potentially less polished lessons, the presence of the plant enabled teachers to demonstrate their best work promptly and uniformly.