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Educating Yorkshire Season 2 Episode 8
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FunTranscript
00:00Over a decade ago, the nation fell in love with a school in Yorkshire.
00:06When I bounce, she'll tell me I bounce off.
00:09This is a coffee, coffee. Keeps me awake, you know.
00:12And an inspiring English teacher, Mr. Burton.
00:16It's the same moment when the trees are loose.
00:19Bloody hell. That's insane.
00:21Now, ten years on, Mr. Burton's been promoted to head teacher.
00:26Shirts in, ties on, coats off.
00:27Slide the smirk off your face now. Do I make myself clear?
00:32You should be really, really, really proud of your achievements.
00:34In that time, we've had six prime ministers.
00:37A global pandemic. That's a bit dramatic.
00:40And Huddersfield Town have been in and out of the Premier League.
00:45Now, the cameras are back. These lot are insane.
00:48To capture the new challenges. Get rid of Snapchat, TikTok, get rid of Instagram.
00:53Facing the school. I'm not going to stay up here, you know.
00:56No! He's just said, leave me alone. I can tell you you don't want me here.
01:00We do want you here, pal.
01:01It's a difficult world that we live in now, and it's a difficult world to grow up in.
01:05But these are moments that, hopefully, children will look back on in the years to come and think,
01:09actually, I learnt a lot from that school.
01:11Call me a fat slut.
01:13How old are we? Five.
01:14Can we just talk about the fact that you kissed my ex-boyfriend, babe?
01:17So we spent a year...
01:18I love him so much.
01:20...seeing the troubles...
01:21No.
01:22...tears...
01:23There's so much to do.
01:24It's toxic, and he's dragging you down the wrong path.
01:27...and triumphs...
01:28You little legend.
01:30Ready?
01:30Whoo!
01:32...through the eyes of the staff...
01:34You've committed a criminal offence.
01:36...and the students at the very start of adult life.
01:40My aim is to inspire you to achieve your goals.
01:46Time flies when you're having fun, baby cakes.
01:48Baby cakes?
01:49That was the most mentally exhausting three months of my entire life.
01:54Life would be so much easier working in a school if there were no students.
01:58Welcome to the world of education!
02:09Hiya.
02:10Hello.
02:10Have you got that, you know, that terminology for, er...
02:13I'm just sending it right now.
02:14God, that's weird.
02:15Yeah, I've literally just finished it.
02:17How's your, er...
02:18Velvertiser?
02:19Really good.
02:20A bit too good, actually.
02:21Have you bought those little hotel chocolat like bags of chocolate?
02:24Yeah.
02:25I've just literally been eating it out of the bag.
02:27Is that wrong?
02:28Well, it's much cheaper to buy a twirl, for example, from a shop.
02:34Morning! Happy New Year!
02:37It's January at Thornhill.
02:40Morning, boys. Welcome back.
02:42And for the oldest students, there's only six months left of school.
02:47Year 11's a massive, massive year.
02:49It can be filled with a range of different emotions.
02:52The backdrop is always this sort of ticking clock of days are getting fewer and fewer and fewer
02:57and we're moving towards the final exams.
03:01So much is at stake and you want every Year 11 to do super, super well,
03:05because it's that passport onto the next step.
03:07It's all about making sure that they are ready to go off into the big wide world.
03:13We'll do a college interview run through, so you're going to pretend you don't know me.
03:19Oh, hi, is it Olivia?
03:20Yeah. Oh, hi, Olivia. I've been expecting you.
03:23Hello, I'm Mrs Delaney. I work here at What's Matter With You.
03:27Is she going to organise for you to maybe do a day's work experience?
03:32Yeah.
03:33So we just need to build your confidence a little bit.
03:36I want them to go and experience the best days of their life as highly qualified and
03:40articulate and capable young adults who can go on and make a splash in the future.
03:45All right, let's do this. 2025, here we go.
03:53Morning. It's just school. Just checking everything's okay with Franca.
03:56He's not signed in as yet. Thank you. Bye.
04:01But preparing students for life after Thornhill can be tricky,
04:05not least for those who aren't even turning up to school.
04:08Mrs Alley, are you free to come to my office?
04:11Before the day has even begun.
04:15Amongst her other duties, Deputy Head Mrs Alley oversees attendance.
04:20Attendance is a national crisis at the minute. Schools up and down the country, post lockdown,
04:27I've really struggled to get the same number of students back through the doors.
04:31That instability and that sporadic attendance cycle that they're in, it's really hard to break that cycle.
04:38And that really has an impact on students' ability to come in school and feel like they belong there.
04:45She's decided to go the extra mile to get students out of their homes and back in the classroom.
04:50I think I threw the term fun bus out there. What about a fun bus? Let's go pick them up.
05:07I did say to one of my year 10s, you do know that I'll be outside your house in the fun bus.
05:11He said, Miss, that is not fun.
05:15Jenna, just to pre-warn you, I'm not a very good passenger.
05:17Yeah? Ever since I was a kid, sometimes we wouldn't even make it off the end of the street
05:21before I've been sick in the bag.
05:23Do you know what the secret is? We sit on newspaper.
05:26Is that a real thing? Yeah.
05:32Are you in, please? It's Mrs. Ali from Thorneil Community Academy.
05:36Can you come to the door, please?
05:41The earring, can you just take the earring out and leave it here for your mum?
05:43No, no.
05:47Take the earring out, please.
05:48We'll take it out of school and get you an antiseptic wife.
05:51All right. Straight into the bus.
05:55Attendance is such a pressing priority.
05:58Essentially, if your bum's not on the chair in the classroom, you're not learning.
06:01So picking them up is a really proactive way of doing it.
06:05Miss, can I go get some food? No.
06:08It's not a plumbing taxi service, Mum. They're taking you everywhere.
06:11Wanted to get a sublage.
06:16Yeah, we're definitely not going to subway.
06:18It's not telling us lunch is over, are you having my life?
06:30Ladies, come on then, let's move.
06:31I'm not moving till I've eaten.
06:34The attendance bus might be getting some students through the gates,
06:38but it's not solving the whole problem for others, like 15-year-old Gracie May.
06:44We started in Year 7 and that was, like, after Covid and then, like,
06:47we kept going through phases of coming to school and then not coming to school
06:50and being at home and being online and doing teams and stuff.
06:54Let's go.
06:55Yeah, hold on.
06:57Everything was overwhelming me.
06:59And then having to come to school, like, I was scared.
07:02Can you believe you're in Year 11 now?
07:05No, it just feels like all my school years have gone so quick.
07:09It just, like, now I'm in, like, more or less at the end of Year 11,
07:12it's like, no more school ever again.
07:16It's weird to think about.
07:18I am actually off to the toilet before I got in my lesson.
07:22Come on, ladies, let me go.
07:23And with Gracie May, even when she's in school,
07:27she's often doing everything she can to avoid actually going to class.
07:33What are you doing?
07:35What lesson have you got? Come on.
07:37I'm bored now.
07:39Come on, I need to get you two into lesson.
07:41I want some water.
07:43I'll get you some water, but you need to be in lesson.
07:47Gracie May's a complex character.
07:50I think because of her attendance, she can feel so far behind
07:52that there's almost no point trying.
07:54But she's intelligent, she's articulate,
07:56she could catch back up quickly if she put her mind to it.
08:01I know it ain't easy, but Year 11 can be really successful for you.
08:04If you allow us to do what we need to do,
08:08we're not asking you to do anything out of the ordinary.
08:11It's just doing the basics and doing them well.
08:14But sometimes Gracie's go-to response is, no, I'm not doing that.
08:18And almost to shut down and refuse to engage.
08:22At just over 50%, Gracie May's attendance record
08:26is one of the worst in Year 11.
08:28And with her mock GCSEs fast approaching,
08:31Mr Burton has pulled her in for a pep talk.
08:34OK, right, so let's have a look at your attendance this week.
08:38You can tell me before I can get there. Go on.
08:40I don't think... Did I come in on Monday?
08:41I don't think I came in Monday. You tell me.
08:43I don't think I came Monday, but I've been in yesterday and today.
08:46Well, from small acorns, mighty oak's grow. Have you heard that before?
08:50Like, it only needs a little seed to sort of grow a big old tree,
08:53but the big old tree's away in the distance yet, isn't it?
08:55We're on about half attendance at the moment, 50.9%,
08:59which is not where we want to be, is it?
09:00It's so bad. And we want to be as high as we possibly possibly can be.
09:03We want you to get the most you can possibly out of Year 11, Gracie May.
09:07Do you understand that?
09:10I want to be a beautician.
09:11I want to do hair and beauty level one in college.
09:16I've got to get a grade two, I think, in my maths and English.
09:20How's that looking at the moment?
09:22Not good.
09:26So, mocks next week are a really, really, really important time to sort of
09:30see where gaps are. And there will be some gaps,
09:31cos you've missed a fair bit of school, but that's fine.
09:33And that basically gives your teachers a menu of the things that you know
09:36and the things you don't know before the next, you know, the run into the exams.
09:40Yeah.
09:41Yeah? So, big, big, big, big, big push.
09:47We have to make sure that we look after her and look out for her,
09:50cos, at the minute, the opportunity to benefit from Year 11
09:53is slipping away from her.
09:58I'm not running in the corridors. You didn't see me.
10:01And my eyebrows are really...
10:02We are. We are. We are.
10:05I can in my eyebrows.
10:06We're not that bad.
10:07You need to sort your uniform out there.
10:11Go on, Preston.
10:12Miss, do you think these pens are the same height?
10:14Yeah.
10:22Wait, if it treats cancer, why does it cause cancer?
10:26Oh, brainy, I am.
10:28Sorry.
10:30While some students are a struggle to get into school,
10:33others rarely miss a day.
10:36I like coming to school. I like doing the work.
10:39You know, I get on.
10:40I've never had any detentions or anything like that.
10:43So, that's...
10:44Class has been nerdy, but I'm all right with that.
10:48What did we say an Isotope is?
10:51Darcy.
10:52What are the badges you've got here?
10:54I got asked this the other day.
10:56I've kind of collected all of them.
10:58So, I got that.
10:59I think it was Year 8.
11:00That was for Form Ambassador.
11:02I was a reading friend last year.
11:04And this really means that I'm a prefect.
11:08Best friends Darcy and Alexa are in their final two years of school.
11:13And they've got big ambitions.
11:15I'll watch our New Year resolutions, ladies.
11:18I get a gross bird.
11:20That's fair.
11:21Both have their eyes on becoming head student when they hit Year 11.
11:25No, Alexa, Alexa, Alexa.
11:28First.
11:28It's an open chat.
11:30Is it to become head girl?
11:32I mean, I'd like to become head girl.
11:33Right, fair.
11:35I remember we were in English and we were in the same English in Year 7
11:39and I remember Miss Naylor saying to us that it'd be us two fighting against each other for head girl.
11:43She said that she'd bet us, like, a million pounds, that.
11:45Yeah, and look where we are now.
11:47Yeah.
11:49Fight till the death.
11:49Yes.
11:54Feels real now.
11:54Yeah.
11:55Like, it's been talked about so a lot.
11:57It feels a lot closer.
11:58Yeah, now like, okay, this is actually happening.
12:02I think I'm definitely challenging myself going head girl because I struggle a lot with my anxiety.
12:09When I'm having to read something and then talk to somebody, like with public speaking,
12:13I struggle with that because I get in my head about it.
12:16Have you guys started your first year?
12:18Yeah.
12:19My mum is prepared.
12:22She...
12:22Are you prepared?
12:24Are you prepared?
12:24It doesn't matter if your mum's prepared.
12:26I am prepared.
12:27I am quite prepared, to be honest.
12:30I think Darcy's very confident in how she presents herself and I think she goes into things thinking,
12:37like, yeah, I'm going to do really amazing at this, which I do admire because sometimes I wobble a bit.
12:45In order to be crowned head girl, both students will need to prepare a speech
12:50and present it in front of Mr Burton and a panel of teachers.
12:55So we need to write about why I want to apply, what skills I'll bring and then the ideas I want to bring.
13:03My mum is very proud of me.
13:05She knows how much I've put into it and she knows how much I want to be a head student.
13:11My mum came to this school and unfortunately wasn't a part of the student parliament team.
13:17Right, okay. So why do you want to be the head girl?
13:21Something that I've always wanted, like from year seven.
13:25You would be really good at being head girl.
13:28I think you want me to get it more than I want to get it.
13:30No, but I think you will do really well, don't we?
13:33You're supposed to be positive about it, Darcy.
13:35I am being positive about it.
13:40I've set myself a list of goals to achieve in school.
13:45I've kind of ticked off most of the stuff that I want on my list,
13:49so it's head girl that's next.
14:02Zoe, I saw your email.
14:03I've got his phone.
14:04I'm going to ring mum because he's refusing to tell us what he's been doing other than watching anime.
14:08The lad has been quite embarrassed to tell the member of staff what it was that he'd seen.
14:13He just went, it rhymes with corn.
14:16No, he didn't.
14:19As part of her remit as deputy head.
14:22Have a seat.
14:23Mrs Alley also oversees behaviour.
14:26So, the reason I wanted to catch your first thing, Keon, is that we've had
14:30some anonymous reports come in.
14:33There is a rumour about carrying a knife in school.
14:37I don't carry knives, what's the reason to?
14:40I don't know.
14:41People do strange things, don't they, sometimes?
14:44Well, I'm not one of them people.
14:45I hope you're not.
14:46Now, I was quite surprised when it was your name.
14:48You can search me right now.
14:50Well, we will in a second.
14:52I've got sweets and I've got my pens.
14:54OK.
14:55Whilst on the outside, school might look very much the same.
14:59We're constantly fighting new battles and experiencing new things through the students.
15:07It doesn't make the job any easier.
15:09Right, do us a favour then, empty any pockets that you've got,
15:12just empty everything out onto the desk.
15:15Now, we are more than just teachers.
15:19I wear so many more hats than I thought I would in this role.
15:23Right, so it's just like being at the airport, except we're not going anywhere glamorous.
15:27You know what rumours are like, they start off as one flippant comment
15:30and before you know it, people have misheard it and that information spreads.
15:34Great stuff.
15:35Thank you, Keon.
15:38I don't see myself as scary, but maybe some students do.
15:43You've been on your phone, you've been asked to put it away, you haven't done.
15:45I didn't know when asked me to put my phone away.
15:47Did you hand the phone over?
15:48Well done.
15:48There we go.
15:49We haven't followed instructions, have we?
15:52I get my point across in the way that it needs to be put across, while still being very fair.
15:57You're getting your phone confiscated.
15:59Are you on your phone in school?
16:01Confiscated?
16:02Yeah.
16:02Your mum will have to come and get it.
16:04I guess it depends who you ask.
16:06Tall, isn't she?
16:07Intimidating.
16:08Well, she's really tall with heels on, because she always wears, like, heels.
16:12I like her hair, and I like her style.
16:14Oh, you're cute.
16:15I love it.
16:16Do you?
16:17I've never met a teacher like her.
16:18Are you in your office?
16:20Yep.
16:21It's not like you can't see me.
16:22I can't get any blooming brighter than this, can I?
16:25Miss Ellie's such a, like, she's like a boss girl.
16:28She's a baddie.
16:29Yeah, she's a baddie.
16:32Miss Ellie?
16:33Gracie, what are we doing with Gracie?
16:36Part of our role is to help open as many doors as we possibly can.
16:41Some students will walk through those doors really confidently.
16:45Others will need a guiding push through some of those doors to say,
16:49come on, you can do this, you've got this.
16:53So, Gracie Mae's attendance was, as we know, diabolical.
16:57My thoughts are around that, that unless we get that sustainable pattern
17:01of attendance in school, we haven't got much of a chance with her
17:03for the next six months, have we?
17:04She's just kind of drifting along, a little bit of loss, though.
17:08When I look at her, I just think she don't believe in herself at all.
17:12The issue we're going to come into is the fact that we can set up
17:14the most gold-plated timetable opportunities left, right and centre,
17:16and then... She's not here to actually...
17:18She's not here. Mm-hm.
17:19I think it's worth a conversation with her around what really makes her tick.
17:23What is it that would kind of change her thought process around school?
17:31I think we have to be really pragmatic about where we're at with Gracie.
17:35Is she going to attend every lesson between now and the exams?
17:40No, probably not.
17:41Will we make it a priority for her to make sure that she attends every exam?
17:45Yes, absolutely, because that paper is ultimately going to open another door
17:50for her and another opportunity.
17:52Time's ticking. It is.
17:54A few months to go, but at the minute,
17:57the opportunity to benefit from Year 11 is slipping away from her.
18:03Go ahead, miss.
18:05We've got Gracie by reception.
18:06Not in lessons. If we could meet with her.
18:09No problem. Gracie? In here.
18:15Determined to try and boost Gracie May's confidence before her GCSE exams,
18:19Mrs Alley has called her in for a meeting.
18:23Right, OK, Gracie. At the minute, we're in the building,
18:26but then we're wandering round, you don't want to go to class,
18:29and it becomes the, let's chase Gracie May for an hour,
18:33and we can't be doing that.
18:34Tell me what you think is not quite right.
18:36I see it as a personal challenge,
18:39because we see the qualities that she hasn't quite recognised yet.
18:43Oh, I hate listening to people, like, in school.
18:46I still like being told what to do.
18:47I want to be there, that mama, when the penny drops,
18:51and she thinks, actually, I'm a really decent human being,
18:54and I've got a really good future ahead of me.
18:56OK, but you are going to go through life having to listen to people.
19:01In the past, like, two years, I've had a rough time.
19:05Fall-outs, arguments, literally everything,
19:09boyfriends, literally everything.
19:11I was just like, what the hell?
19:13So I stopped coming to school,
19:14cos I didn't come to school for so long.
19:17Just...just...
19:19I just get overwhelmed.
19:20I just don't like school.
19:22OK, you are entitled to your opinion.
19:25It breaks my heart that you feel that way about school,
19:28but you are at the final, final hurdle,
19:31and we need to get through exam season with you at the other end.
19:34What I want to do is create a little bit of a contract with you
19:38and print out for you to sign.
19:40Right, OK, so first bit of the contract in every day.
19:44From a behaviour perspective, what would you say the criteria should be?
19:49Between now and the exams, which are starting imminently.
19:53Go to my lessons.
19:54Right, I would agree with that one.
19:56I'm so bad at school.
19:58You're not, you're not.
19:59You are capable of great things.
20:02You need to start believing that a bit more.
20:06Mrs Ali, she'll do anything to get me into school.
20:09She just tells you how it is.
20:10It's like she just sees straight through me, though, like, she knows.
20:14I think she sees potential in me.
20:16Like, I don't know, she sees things in me that other people don't.
20:22Are we going for it?
20:23Come on, we've got this.
20:26Gracie's school journey hasn't been plain sailing by any means,
20:29but she needs to almost stop listening to that little voice in her head
20:33that's telling her that she can't do things because she can,
20:36and she needs to let the positive voices that are around her saying,
20:41Gracie, you've got this, in a little bit more.
20:46Are you in that thing all day?
20:49Yeah, talking about, like, how to be comfortable when public speaking.
20:54So, when you've done this course, you can do an assembly for me, then.
20:57Think of a topic... Lashes, a debate.
21:00OK, we'll do a debate in assembly, then.
21:03We did one about having leggings at school.
21:05Lashes and leggings, LNL?
21:07Yeah. Lashes, leggings and nails.
21:09Why, what's your issue with lashes and leggings?
21:11Cos lashes and leggings are so comfortable to wear.
21:14He said, watch, wear these.
21:15I don't think your lashes are comfortable.
21:18Are you passionate about languages?
21:20No.
21:21We're going to make the enthusiasm.
21:23Yay!
21:24Whoa!
21:25It's like a pantomime in here.
21:27Ladies, just find somewhere to sit, please.
21:29What on earth has taken to your hands?
21:30I don't know.
21:32You must know.
21:34That looks like a pen's being smushed everywhere.
21:36I'm going to have to get them scrubbed tonight.
21:38The day of the head girl presentations has arrived.
21:47Darcy and Alexa will be facing a panel of head teacher, Mr Burton,
21:51deputy head, Mrs Ali, and student leadership coordinator, Miss Healy.
21:56I want to prove that I am good enough and, like, I think I get a bit in over my head sometimes
22:03and I get too worried about it, but I'm trying to manage that.
22:09I'm nervous about doing the speeches because you want to make a good impression.
22:13I think that they will grill me a bit about how are we going to make the school better.
22:20What time is it?
22:22Like three minutes to three.
22:23Three minutes to three? Where's Darcy?
22:28Is Darcy preparing, like, a smoke machine or something?
22:30Is she coming in?
22:31She's coming in through the medium of dance.
22:33To rise out floor?
22:36The role of head student is to be the representative for students across the school.
22:42Life.
22:43We want somebody who's got a belief in making things better for others.
22:48We're not expecting the finished article.
22:50You might not be the most confident person in your class,
22:53but you have got a really kind, nurturing side to you.
22:57Hi. Hi.
22:59How are you?
23:00How are you?
23:01Good to see you. You OK?
23:03Yeah.
23:05The floor is yours when you're ready.
23:07Sir, I'm Darcy.
23:09As you know, I'm Darcy.
23:10The reason why I want the role is the ability to give a voice to students
23:14who feel they can't go directly to teachers.
23:18To also help bring ideas to school to make just school life for students
23:22that little bit easier.
23:23What do you think your strongest characteristic is?
23:26And how do you think that would help you in the role of head student?
23:28I think my confidence, I think having the experience of performing with drama club
23:33and being a drama student, it's something that it helps me with my confidence of public speaking.
23:38I know I can do it.
23:40It does get competitive.
23:42It matters a lot to them, so it probably puts them in a position pitting themselves
23:46against friends and mates that they haven't been in before.
23:50So everybody who takes on a job or a new role or whatever it might be has got vulnerabilities.
23:54What do you think your biggest challenge would be if you were elected as head girl
23:59and how would you go about overcoming that?
24:06That's a very deep question.
24:09It was definitely nerve-wracking being in front of the head teacher
24:12and the deputy head teacher.
24:14But I just felt proud of myself for going out there
24:16and putting myself out there to get the role.
24:18Right. Thank you, Darcy. Well done.
24:20Thank you. Great job. Well done.
24:22It's some students who are doing what I would have done at school and putting themselves in
24:27situations that is scaring them to death and is completely out of their comfort zone,
24:32but they're doing it because there's something inside them telling them,
24:35you know, you've got the skills to do this.
24:38Do I go in now? Yeah.
24:39Bye, bro.
24:43How are you all? Good, thank you. Are you? Thank you.
24:45Do I have to stand up or do I want to sit down?
24:47Absolutely up to you.
24:48And when you're comfortable, when you're ready, the floor is yours.
24:52OK, thank you.
24:54Why do I want to become a head girl?
24:58So, this is the worst bit. I hate talking about myself.
25:00But I think I have quite a good role, like, quite good skills to be in the role, sorry.
25:07And I think I'm very stubborn.
25:11I think I'm, you know, I do talk quite a lot.
25:14So I think I want to do well.
25:18I'm good at listening and supporting other people.
25:20I'm a Brownie leader outside of school.
25:22So I just want everyone to feel seen and feel happy and make sure that the, you know,
25:27the want to be in school.
25:29Like, I came in year seven so anxious, so scared about everything.
25:32And I think that's something that you guys have really helped me with.
25:36And I think making sure you guys have that recognition, because not that you need the ego booster,
25:42but make sure people see that you guys do it day in, day out.
25:45I think that's a really good thing that we need to shine a light on, because you guys do so much
25:49and a lot of it isn't seen and it should be.
25:53I think I've built good relationships with teachers.
25:55So hopefully they like my ideas and they'll get on board with me.
26:01Goody two shoes, that's what they call me.
26:03Are you going for head girl or is this a senior leadership job that you have to...?
26:05HE LAUGHS
26:06Head girl, but I'd be open to discussion.
26:08OK.
26:10One more question for me. It might be simple, it might not.
26:13Who's the panda?
26:16I just really like pandas.
26:18Is there no symbolism behind the panda or anything like that?
26:19No, he just made me a little less anxious.
26:22OK, that's great.
26:23Well done.
26:24Proud of you. Thank you so much for listening.
26:25Take care.
26:26You too.
26:29I was feeling so nervous going in, like my hands were shaking like mad.
26:35I think if I didn't win, I'd be a bit gutted, because I'd be like,
26:39oh, I really wanted that.
26:41Darcy's got really good ideas and she's a brilliant prefect,
26:46so I wouldn't like to see my chances.
26:56Good morning, this is a message for Gracie May's mum.
26:58It's Thornhill Academy.
26:59We're just making sure everything's OK with Gracie.
27:02She's not registered for school this morning.
27:04If you can, let us know what time to expect her in.
27:07Thank you, bye.
27:08It's Tuesday morning and Gracie May has once again failed to turn up to school.
27:21Keen to do all she can to get Gracie May in,
27:24Mrs Alley sends out the fun bus.
27:32Is she ready?
27:33I'm coming.
27:34We'll come and take you, love.
27:35We'll save your hair, Gracie.
27:36No.
27:37Come on, Gracie, it's meant to be our fun bus.
27:39No, I'm not getting in that.
27:41Done to set off now then, Gracie, and we'll meet you there, love.
27:44Yeah?
27:47What do you think about the attendance bus?
27:51Embarrassing.
27:53Even if I were, like, in Wakefield and they come in on that bus
27:56and I had to walk, so I'd rather walk.
27:57No thanks.
28:00Oh, is she here?
28:01She is here.
28:02I won't be.
28:03Whereabouts is she?
28:04She's here on the right.
28:07Oh, she's gone to the other side.
28:09Doing her best to avoid.
28:12Well done for getting in, Gracie.
28:16I don't think she liked the concept of being driven to school in the minibus.
28:20I think she thought it was a bit embarrassing, but she's on her way in.
28:29In school, Gracie May has a catch-up with student manager, Mrs Crowther,
28:33about what might happen when she finishes Year 11.
28:37I think you get to a certain stage in Year 11 and you're done with it all, aren't you?
28:42You're the oldest students in school.
28:45It's a bit of a stressful time of year.
28:48But it is coming to an end now, Gracie.
28:51So it's just this push to the end.
28:56OK?
29:00Have you any worries or concerns?
29:03Sure.
29:08You know you can come and talk to me all the time.
29:14Everything's just gone so quick.
29:16Like, yesterday I was in Year 7 and now I'm finishing school for my GCSEs.
29:22You feel a bit stressed?
29:23Yeah.
29:24I'm just more scared to just leave, like, there's not going to be the support.
29:31The thought of being in the world, like, just me by myself, just scares me.
29:35When I leave, I'm just going to be, like, lost, I think.
29:40It is scary and when you're in school, everything's done for you.
29:44You just need to turn up and do the work.
29:47This is part of your growing up.
29:51It's daunting for them because they've been here for five years.
29:56They do want to leave, but a lot of them do get quite worried,
30:01even though they might not always admit to it,
30:06that they're leaving a bit of a safety net, really.
30:11Have you thought about where you're going to go?
30:14What do you need?
30:16What would you like to do at college or what would you like as a job?
30:19Hair and beauty or construction.
30:23Nothing wrong with that.
30:25Where are you applying to do that?
30:27I don't even know.
30:28You don't know? Right.
30:30We need to get that sorted, don't we?
30:32Think about which course you want to do.
30:34Get to some open events.
30:36Have a look round.
30:38That's so scary, though.
30:40But do you know what would be even more scary?
30:43Is not going and looking round and going somewhere that's not the right fit for you.
30:48Yeah.
30:49You wouldn't buy a pair of shoes without trying them on, would you?
30:53No, Karen.
30:54Yeah, if I had them online.
30:56Yeah, but if they weren't right, you'd send them back.
30:57Yeah.
31:01When they leave at the age of 16 and they're going to go into the world of college
31:05or the world of sixth form or apprenticeships or training or work or whatever it might be,
31:10at that point, they need to start taking more responsibility.
31:16The other thing about it, though, Grace, it's quite an exciting time for you, is this?
31:20It's scary.
31:22It is scary, but it's your next steps.
31:24The first rung on the ladder of responsibility is believing that you can.
31:31So when they leave us, they need to believe that they absolutely can.
31:34And we've got a job to be able to teach them the tools to be able to do that.
31:37Why are we late?
31:43Slept in, Evie? Why are we late?
31:47Right, it's 30 minutes detention.
31:50Can't know, Evie, cars do de-ice.
31:51She doesn't eat mine, she doesn't.
31:53OK, so a little quick tip for tomorrow.
31:56If you get to see one of those sandwich bags, a bag that you put sandwiches in,
32:00full of warmish water, not hot, run it over the windscreen, it'll de-ice the car.
32:05And there's no excuse for being late.
32:07OK, I love this.
32:09It was just coincidence, but I just think it's really cute.
32:11It was sent from dear frost, frost, like frosty weather, you with me, to a thaw.
32:21When ice melts, it's thawed.
32:27I don't know if you're getting it.
32:28I think realistically the one that stood out for me was Alexa.
32:35With the presentations complete, the school is due to announce who will be crowned head girl.
32:42I agree that Alexa was very impact-driven and much more confident than I thought she would be,
32:48which is a real positive. I thought she did a really good job of it.
32:52Darcy really impressed me.
32:54Darcy, I thought, was great, very pragmatic.
32:56I think she'd be really approachable for students as well.
32:59I think she is the type of character that you would want to go to.
33:03Alexa is resourceful and intelligent and kind.
33:06Alexa likes superiority.
33:08Fantastic, this idea of him being superior.
33:12She works hard, she bees nice, if you like.
33:14Now, one of the things Alexa lacks massively is confidence.
33:18It will be a challenge for her, bearing in mind how anxious she can get.
33:22I don't like science.
33:23Darcy May is passionate about the school and is an ambassador and role model for students to look up to.
33:31If we could combine Alexa and Darcy May, then I'm pretty sure we'd have almost that perfect head girl.
33:37Where's your vote going?
33:38Absolutely no comment. I'm pleading a fifth.
33:43Sorted.
33:43I think me and Alex asked Mr Burton quite a few times, when are we going to find out, when are we going to find out?
33:58You all look so nervous.
34:00This is worse than the interview.
34:01It's absolutely not. You've done the hardest bit.
34:05The atmosphere of this office is crackling.
34:09People that I don't live with, like relatives in Wales, they'll be like, has she found out yet?
34:15I'm like, no, I've not found out.
34:18Do you want to do head girl?
34:19Yes.
34:20So, ladies, you did a phenomenal job.
34:23There can only be one winner.
34:24So, after a lot of deliberation, and you made our jobs extremely difficult,
34:30we have determined, based on your interviews, that our head girl is going to be...
34:39Mrs Spence.
34:40Alexa, congratulations.
34:49You were phenomenal.
34:50You almost made me cry as part of your interview.
34:53You were just so passionate about everything.
34:55Absolutely phenomenal job. Well done.
34:57Thank you so much.
34:58Darcy, you are our deputy head girl.
35:00You were just so good.
35:02And I know that you guys will work in partnership and do amazing things.
35:05You've both got incredible ideas, so congratulations to both of you.
35:08Thank you so much.
35:10You know, I've always wanted to be head girl.
35:15It's been something I wanted to do since year seven.
35:18But I think Alexa will do it amazing as head girl.
35:21Well done, everyone.
35:22Well done.
35:25When I heard her say it, I was a bit like, she said my name.
35:27You know, I was a bit like, wow.
35:30If I told six-year-old Alexa that I am now head girl, she wouldn't believe me.
35:36I never thought that I'd be able to, you know,
35:38get this far, but yeah, she'd be proud of me.
35:41And I'm proud of myself.
35:42I'm proud of myself.
35:42Well done.
35:47Girls sit down or outside, please.
35:50Right, it's the uniform train and it's untidy.
35:53Shirt in.
35:54Tie on.
35:56Grazie.
35:56Please. No.
35:58I'm not taking you out of your whole geography just because you don't like...
36:02But if you don't, then I guarantee you that that guy will send me out.
36:06Well, just keep your mouth shut. I do. He hates me for breathing.
36:09Don't breathe, then. And then I'll die.
36:12Miss. Go on, then. Miss. Are you serious?
36:15What? Yes, sir. He's just wished death upon upon me.
36:18I don't think he has. He did. I said I get him to him for breathing.
36:21He went, don't breathe, then. That's the only thing we can suggest.
36:24Yeah. Go on, off we go.
36:29If you type in, how are you there?
36:32It's Monday morning.
36:34And it seems the message from her teachers is beginning to have an effect on Gracie Mae.
36:40She's taking her first steps to prepare for life after Thornhill.
36:45Is that something you'd be interested in? Yeah.
36:47Shall we apply for it now? Yeah.
36:49Like this second? Yeah.
36:51Yeah, no time like the present. Scroll down.
36:53Scroll down.
36:56My future in my head, I want to have a good job, I want to be a family person.
37:01Hey, Kessie.
37:03Oh, hey, Lucy. How you doing?
37:04One day I just want to have enough money to give my mum and just be like, stop working.
37:08I want to have that much money so I can just give my mum loads and just be like, do what you want.
37:13Take yourself on holiday.
37:16Coming out tonight!
37:18Why not?
37:19I've got to revise. I've got exams all week.
37:21All this week and next week.
37:23Not the mocks?
37:24Yeah, they're your predicted grades.
37:25Whoa!
37:26You get your predicted grades and then they go to college as well.
37:28All your mock exam results, they go to college.
37:31How are you going to get to that dream?
37:33Just work hard.
37:35Just literally work hard.
37:38Guys, pray for me.
37:40Right.
37:41Bye!
37:49Daughter dearest.
37:50You all right?
37:52I'm good.
37:54What have you got on?
37:56We've got Learning for Life period one, haven't we?
37:59So we're doing Kantian ethics.
38:01Yes.
38:02Are you going to ask a question?
38:04Oh, for God's sake, you are pathetic.
38:07You can reach down better than me.
38:10What's going on?
38:15Just a bit of shoe cleaning going on.
38:17Morning.
38:18Morning.
38:24Shirt in, please.
38:25Shirt in, tie on.
38:27What have you got?
38:28I'm glad maths went all right.
38:29I'll see you down there in a minute.
38:31It's Wednesday morning.
38:32Come on, nice and quick, please.
38:34And for the year 11s, mocks are in full swing.
38:37Right, I'm walking down to the exam.
38:40Have you got an exam as well?
38:41What exam is it?
38:42In geography.
38:43Okay, it's going to be fine.
38:44You got the mock?
38:45In geography.
38:46Perfect.
38:47Is Gracie here?
38:49Gracie's just got here now.
38:51I've offered to put her in the hall, but she's just walking away.
38:54Gracie Mae is in school, but is refusing to enter the exam hall.
39:00Come on, let's go.
39:01Come on, Gracie Mae.
39:02Off we go.
39:03Come on, Gracie, let's go.
39:04These exams are not about knowing everything that you need to know.
39:06And I know you've got massive gaps.
39:08What we need to know is what you don't know.
39:09And if that's everything, then that's everything.
39:11Well, it's everything I'm going to sit there with nothing on my table.
39:13So, get some pen on paper and give it a go as best you possibly can.
39:16Have you got anybody who could have a word in Gracie's ear, please,
39:19about coming down to the exam?
39:21Just in the canteen now by the radiator.
39:23I'm going down to the exam.
39:24All right, I'm just going to catch Gracie.
39:26Oh, yeah.
39:27Exams are so scary.
39:30When you get into the exam, your whole mind just goes blank.
39:33Like, I don't know about other people, but that happens to me.
39:36Like, I could know everything.
39:38Like, I could literally know everything.
39:40And as soon as I get into the exam, look at the paper,
39:42and my head just goes blank and I can't do it.
39:45Gracie?
39:47Come on.
39:49What's worrying you?
39:51Do you know what?
39:53You might go in there and really surprise yourself,
39:55but actually, you know more than you thought.
39:58No, cos I don't know anything.
40:01Just thinking right now, I don't know anything.
40:03I get that that kind of fear of failure
40:06and that fear of not knowing anything
40:09is something that might absolutely put you off.
40:11But you might just go in there and surprise yourself a little bit.
40:16It gives me anxiety and, like,
40:18it makes me not be able to read the questions and stuff.
40:21Like, I just...
40:22I don't... I can't, like, put it into words.
40:25How about if we put you somewhere a bit quieter,
40:27where it feels a little bit less intrusive?
40:30Would you be willing to give something a go if it's in a difficult space?
40:36Yeah?
40:38Let me get a copy of the paper.
40:41I think trying to plan too far ahead feels unobtainable to her.
40:46So, actually, if we just think about the next few days ahead,
40:50let's get through those.
40:52If we take it a little bit at a time,
40:54it feels a lot more manageable.
40:59Right. Let's have a look.
41:01There's going to be a range of different questions.
41:03So, even some of them, even if you're not 100% sure,
41:06you've got multiple choice questions in there,
41:08we can give it a go, can't we?
41:10And then some of them are to do with your opinion on stuff.
41:13So, there's no right or wrong answer on a question like that.
41:16So, as long as you can justify your opinion
41:18on why you think a certain thing, you get marks.
41:22Shall we give those questions a go and see how you get on with them?
41:25Yeah?
41:27Have you got a pen?
41:28No.
41:29No? Have you?
41:30Is your phone in your bag?
41:32Are you happy if I put your bag just outside
41:33and you haven't got your phone in the exam room?
41:35No.
41:38When you're dealing with young people who do lack some self-belief,
41:42you can relate to that.
41:44Everybody's got a little bit of self-doubt
41:47or an area in their life where they don't feel as confident.
41:57Those are ways to... Oh, sorry.
42:05I've done everything.
42:06Done. Let's have a look.
42:07How do you feel now you've done it?
42:08All right.
42:09Yeah.
42:10Not as bad as you were expecting.
42:11Sometimes we build things up in our mind, don't we, and you think that barrier's there and you put a blocker there, but actually, you can do it.
42:18Okay.
42:19Do you know what?
42:20Do you know what?
42:21Do you know what?
42:22I'm really proud of you for doing that.
42:24I didn't think we were going to get in this room and get it done, so well done you.
42:25When I was at school, I always had that niggling voice in the background telling you that I couldn't do things.
42:32So, when I see that in the young person, I understand that. I've had those voices. I still have those voices.
42:33I'm not sure they ever...
42:34I'm not sure they ever...
42:35I don't think we were going to get in this room and get it done, so well done you.
42:39When I was at school, I always had that niggling voice in the background telling you that I couldn't do things.
42:49So, when I see that in the young person, I understand that. I've had those voices. I still have those voices.
42:57I'm not sure they ever... fully go away.
43:04Really proud of you, Gracie. Well done.
43:07My job is to help students find a way of controlling that volume themselves.
43:13Yeah, it makes me quite emotional.
43:15Alabama, Arkansas, I don't have my mum and pa.
43:25Not in the way that I do love you.
43:32Home is whenever I meet you.
43:36We're listening to that song.
43:37The power that children have got to just make you sit up and go,
43:45goodness me, where did that come from?
43:47My next-door neighbour's called Gary. My dog's called Gary.
43:50OK, let's pretend this is Gary Barlow.
43:52Is that a person?
43:54It just keeps you relentlessly entertained and interested and engaged.
43:57I mean, I think putting a zipline in school is probably a little bit beyond what we can do.
44:01It keeps it really, really, really positive, even in really challenging times for education.
44:05I know you'll be doing something behind me in 200 classrooms, Jacob.
44:09Oh, brilliant.
44:10Oh!
44:11Own up to it.
44:12He says heard it and he knows it was somebody.
44:14Who made the big noises?
44:16The reason people work in school is because they want to make a difference
44:18and the staff here are so dedicated to making sure that young people get their very best chance in life.
44:24Kinda looks like Mr Hall.
44:26All the wash browns!
44:28Shouting out...
44:29An answer.
44:30No, no, he shouted out mango.
44:32Mango?
44:33But nobody goes into schools for an easy ride.
44:36It's an emotional rollercoaster.
44:37Just leave me alone, I can tell you don't want me!
44:40We do want you here, pal.
44:42Come on, mate.
44:44And when you're dealing with the futures of the next generation...
44:49Right, breathe in, breathe out.
44:51Deep breaths.
44:52It's high-stakes stuff.
44:55And we don't get any other chances to get this right.
45:02I'm in.
45:03Oh, that is fantastic news.
45:05I'm really, really proud of you, Scott.
45:07Absolutely buzzing.
45:08He's good!
45:09You are good!
45:10Wow!
45:12To see them in school and thriving is really inspiring and really heartwarming.
45:16Ready?
45:17Three, two, one.
45:18Yeah!
45:19Alexa!
45:20There's so much hope for the future.
45:23There are times when children, teenagers get really bad reputation in the media and across
45:37society.
45:38But teenagers are still teenagers.
45:42They still go through the same experiences and emotions and ups and downs that they always
45:46have done and always will do.
45:47Keep being you.
45:49Never change for anyone else.
45:51This lot are fabulous.
45:54Really good people, making good choices, doing good things.
45:58It's an absolute privilege to have been involved in that really important time in their lives.
46:03I'm ready.
46:04I'm ready.
46:05I'm going home.
46:33I'm ready.
46:34I'm ready.
46:35I'm ready.
46:36I'm ready.
46:37I'm ready.
46:38I'm ready.
46:39I'm ready.
46:40I'm ready.
46:41I'm ready.
46:42I'm ready.
46:43I'm ready.
46:44I'm ready.
46:45I'm ready.
46:46I'm ready.
46:47I'm ready.
46:48I'm ready.
46:49I'm ready.
46:50I'm ready.
46:51I'm ready.
46:52I'm ready.
46:53I'm ready.
46:54I'm ready.
46:55I'm ready.
46:56I'm ready.
46:57I'm ready.
46:58I'm ready.
46:59I'm ready.
47:00I'm ready.
47:01I'm ready.
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