The novel tells the story mostly in the form of a school logbook kept by George Harpole, temporary Head Teacher of the Church of England primary school of "Tampling St. Nicholas".

The novel has attained a minor cult status within the teaching profession.

[3] Frank Muir described The Harpole Report as "the funniest and perhaps the truest story about running a school that I ever have read" and chose it as his book to take to a desert island on the BBC Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs.

The Times described it as "An assortment of memorable characters lurking in the English educational undergrowth.

"[4] An abridged version of the book was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1981, read by Martin Jarvis.