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00:00Over a decade ago, the nation fell in love with a school in Yorkshire.
00:06My eyebrows.
00:08She told me I'm brown.
00:10This is a coffee.
00:11Keep me awake, you know.
00:13And an inspiring English teacher, Mr. Burton.
00:16It's the same moment when the trees are loose.
00:19Bloody hell.
00:20That's insane.
00:21Now, ten years on, Mr. Burton's been promoted to head teacher.
00:26Shirts in, ties on, coats off.
00:29Apply the smirk off your face now.
00:31Do I make myself clear?
00:33You should be really, really, really proud of your achievements.
00:35In that time, we've had six prime ministers.
00:38Hello!
00:39A global pandemic.
00:40That's a bit dramatic.
00:41And Huddersfield Town have been in and out of the Premier League.
00:45Hello!
00:46Now, the cameras are back.
00:48These lot are insane.
00:49To capture the new challenges.
00:51Get rid of Snapchat, TikTok, get rid of Instagram.
00:54Facing the school.
00:55I'm not a therapist, you know.
00:57No!
00:58He said, leave me alone, I can tell 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?
01:14Five.
01:15Can we just talk about the fact that you kissed my ex-boyfriend?
01:17So we spent a year.
01:18I love him so much.
01:19Seeing the troubles.
01:20No.
01:21Tears.
01:22So long to do.
01:23It's toxic.
01:24And it's dragging you down the wrong path.
01:27And triumphs.
01:28You little legend.
01:30Ready?
01:31Woo!
01:32Through the eyes of the staff.
01:34You've committed a criminal offence.
01:37And the students at the very start of adult life.
01:42My aim is to inspire you to achieve your goals.
01:45Time flies when you're having fun, baby cakes.
01:48Baby cakes?
01:49That was the most mentally exhausting three months of my entire life.
01:55Life would be so much easier working in a school if there were no students.
01:59Welcome to the world of education!
02:10Hiya.
02:11Hello.
02:12Have you got that terminology for...
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 velvetiser?
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!
02:35Happy New Year!
02:37It's January at Thornhill.
02:39Morning, boys.
02:40Welcome back.
02:41Welcome 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 and we're moving towards the final exams.
03:01So much is at stake and you want every Year 11 to do super, super well because 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?
03:20Yes.
03:21Oh, hi, Olivia. I've been expecting you.
03:23Hello, I'm Mrs Delaney. I work here at What's Matter With You.
03:26Is she going to organise for you to maybe do a day's work experience?
03:31Yeah.
03:32So 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 articulate and capable young adults who can go on and make a splash in the future.
03:44Right, let's do this. 2025, here we go.
03:53Morning, it's just school. Just checking if everything's okay with Franca. He's not signed in as yet.
03:59Thank you. Bye.
04:01But preparing students for life after Thornhill can be tricky, not least for those who aren't even turning up to school.
04:09Mrs L, 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.
04:21Attendance is a national crisis at the minute.
04:24Schools up and down the country, post lockdown, have really struggled to get the same number of students back through the doors.
04:32That instability and that sporadic attendance cycle that they're in, it's really hard to break that cycle.
04:37And that really has an impact on students' ability to come in school and feel like they belong there.
04:44She's decided to go the extra mile to get students out of their homes and back in the classroom.
04:50We're good to go.
05:00I think I threw the term fun bus out there. What about a fun bus? Let's go and pick them up.
05:05I did say to one of my year 10s, you do know that I'll be outside your house in the fun bus. He said, Miss, that is not fun.
05:13Jenna, just to pre-warn you, I'm not a very good passenger.
05:17Yeah?
05:18Ever since I was a kid, sometimes we wouldn't even make it off the end of the street before I've been sick in the bag.
05:23Do you know what the secret is? We sit on newspaper.
05:27Is that a real thing?
05:28Yeah.
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.
05:44No, no.
05:45It's a car. They're infected.
05:46What? What?
05:47Take the earring out, please.
05:48We'll take it out of school and get you an antiseptic. Why?
05:51Yeah.
05:52All 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.
06:02So, picking them up is a really proactive way of doing it.
06:06Miss, can I go get some food?
06:07No.
06:09It's not a plumbing taxi service, Mum. They're taking you everywhere.
06:11Wanted to get a subway.
06:16Yeah, we're definitely not going to subway.
06:26Is that telling us lunch is over?
06:28Are you having my life?
06:30Ladies, come on then, let's move.
06:32I am not moving till I've eaten.
06:35The 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.
06:53Let's go!
06:55Yeah, hold on.
06:57Everything was just overwhelming me.
06:59And then having to come to school, like, I was just scared.
07:03Can you believe you're in Year 11 now?
07:06No, it just feels like all my school years have gone so quick.
07:10It's 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.
07:19I am actually off to the toilet before I got in my lesson.
07:22Come on, ladies, let go.
07:24And 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.
07:38Come 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.
07:46Gracie May's a complex character.
07:49I think because of her attendance, she can feel so far behind
07:53that there's almost no point trying.
07:55But she's intelligent, she's articulate,
07:57she could catch back up quickly if she put her mind to it.
08:00I know it ain't easy, but Year 11 can be really successful for you
08:05if 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,
08:17no, I'm not doing that.
08:19And 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.
08:42You tell me.
08:44I 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,
08:54but the big old tree's away in the distance, isn't it?
08:56We're on about half attendance at the moment, 50.9%,
08:59which is not where we want to be, is it?
09:01And we want to be as high as we possibly possibly can be.
09:04We want you to get the most you can possibly out of Year 11, Gracie May.
09:07Do you understand that?
09:09I want to be a beautician.
09:12I 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.
09:21How's that looking at the moment?
09:23Not good.
09:26So, mocks next week are a really, really, really important time
09:29to sort of see where gaps are.
09:31And there will be some gaps, because you've missed a fair bit of school,
09:33but that's fine.
09:34And that basically gives your teachers a menu of the things that you know
09:37and the things you don't know before the next, you know,
09:40the run into the exams.
09:42Yeah. Yeah?
09:44So, big, big, big, big, big push.
09:48We have to make sure that we look after her and look out for her,
09:51because, at the minute, the opportunity to benefit from Year 11
09:54is slipping away from her.
09:59I'm not running in the corridors, you didn't see me.
10:02And my eyebrows are orange.
10:04We are, tell them, tell them.
10:06Not that bad.
10:08You need to sort your uniform out there.
10:10Miss, Miss, please.
10:12Go on, Preston.
10:14Miss, do you think these pens are the same height?
10:16Yeah.
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,
10:34others rarely miss a day.
10:36I like coming to school, I like doing the work.
10:39You know, I get on.
10:41I've never had any detentions or anything like that,
10:44so that's classes being nerdy.
10:46But I'm all right with that.
10:48What did we say an isotope is?
10:51Darcy.
10:53What are the badges you've got here?
10:54I got asked this the other day, I've kind of collected all of them,
10:58so I got that, I think it was year eight.
11:01That was for former ambassador.
11:03I was a reading friend last year,
11:05and at this point I 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.
11:16What's your New Year resolutions, ladies?
11:19I get a gross bit.
11:20That's fair.
11:22Both have their eyes on becoming head student when they hit Year 11.
11:26No, Alexa, Alexa, Alexa.
11:29It's an open chat, no-one doesn't know.
11:31Is it to become head girl?
11:33I mean, I'd like to become head girl.
11:35I remember we were in English,
11:38and we were in the same English in Year 7,
11:40and I remember Miss Naylor saying to us that they'd beat us two
11:43fighting against each other for head girl.
11:44That she'd bet us, like, a million pounds.
11:46Yeah, and look where we are now.
11:48A fight till the death.
11:50Yes.
11:54Feels real now.
11:55Yeah. It does.
11:57It feels a lot closer.
11:59Yeah, now, like, okay, this is actually happening.
12:02I think I'm definitely challenging myself going for head girl,
12:06because I struggle a lot with my anxiety.
12:09When I'm having to read something and then talk to somebody,
12:12like, with public speaking,
12:14I struggle with that, because I get in my head about it.
12:16Have you guys started your posters?
12:18Yeah.
12:20My mum is prepared.
12:22She...
12:24Are you prepared? Are you prepared?
12:25It 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,
12:34and I think she goes into things thinking, like,
12:38yeah, I'm going to do really amazing at this,
12:40which I do admire, because sometimes I wobble a bit.
12:45In order to be crowned head girl,
12:48both students will need to prepare a speech
12:50and present it in front of Mr Burton and a panel of teachers.
12:54So, we need to write about why I want to apply,
12:58what skills I'll bring, and then the ideas I want to bring.
13:02My mum is very proud of me.
13:05She knows how much I've put into it
13:07and she knows how much I want to be a head student.
13:10My mum came to this school
13:13and, unfortunately, wasn't a part of the student parliament team.
13:17Right, OK.
13:19So, why do you want to be the head girl?
13:20It's something that I've always wanted, like, from Year 7.
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.
13:31No, but I think you will do really well, don't we?
13:34You're supposed to be positive about it, Darcy.
13:36I am being positive about it!
13:37I've set myself a list of goals to achieve in school.
13:42I've kind of ticked off most of the stuff that I want on my list,
13:47so it's head girl that's next.
13:49Zoe, I saw your email.
13:51I've got his phone, I'm going to ring mum cos he's refusing to tell us what he's been doing,
13:54other than watching anime.
13:55The lad has been quite embarrassed to tell the member of staff what it was that he'd seen.
13:57He just went, it rhymes with corn.
13:59No, he didn't.
14:00As part of her remit as deputy head…
14:01Have a seat.
14:03…Mrs Ali also oversees behaviour.
14:04I've got his phone, I'm going to ring mum
14:05because he's refusing to tell us what he's been doing
14:07other than watching anime.
14:09The lad has been quite embarrassed to tell the member staff
14:11what 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.
14:23..Mrs Ali also oversees behaviour.
14:26So, the reason I wanted to catch you first thinking on
14:29is that we've had some anonymous reports come in.
14:32There is a rumour about carrying a knife in school.
14:38I 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.
14:49You 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
15:02and experiencing new things through the students.
15:07It doesn't make the job any easier.
15:09Right, do us a favour then.
15:10Empty any pockets that you've got.
15:12Just empty everything out onto the desk.
15:13Now, 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,
15:25except we're not going anywhere glamorous.
15:27You know what rumours are like.
15:28They start off as one flippant comment,
15:30and before you know it, people have misheard it
15:32and that information spreads.
15:34Great stuff.
15:35Thank you, Keon.
15:36I don't see myself as scary,
15:40but maybe some students do.
15:43You've been on your phone,
15:44you've been asked to put it away,
15:45you 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, no.
15:49There we go.
15:49We haven't followed instructions, have we?
15:52I get my point across
15:53in the way that it needs to be put across
15:55while still being very fair.
15:57You're getting your phone confiscated.
15:59You're 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?
16:08Intimidating.
16:09Well, she's really tall with heels on,
16:10cos she always wears, like, heels.
16:12I like her hair, and I like her style.
16:14Oh, thank you.
16:16I 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.
16:23I can't get any blooming brighter than this, can I?
16:25Miss Ellie's such a, like...
16:27She's like a boss girl.
16:28She's a baddie.
16:29Yeah, she's a baddie.
16:31Mrs. Stanley?
16:33Gracie.
16:34What 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,
16:50come 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 of attendance in school,
17:02we haven't got much of a chance with her for 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 doesn't believe in herself at all.
17:11The issue we're going to come into is the fact that we can set up the most gold-plated timetable opportunities left, right and centre,
17:17and then...
17:17She's not here to actually...
17:17She's not here.
17:18Mm-hmm.
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?
17:30I 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 for her and another opportunity.
17:52Time's ticking.
17:53It is.
17:54A few months to go.
17:55But, at the minute, the opportunity to benefit from Year 11 is slipping away from her.
18:03Go ahead, miss.
18:05We've got Gracie by reception.
18:07Not in lessons.
18:08If we could meet with her.
18:10No problem.
18:12Gracie.
18:13In here.
18:15Determined to try and boost Gracie May's confidence before her GCSE exams,
18:20Mrs Alley has called her in for a meeting.
18:23Right, OK, Gracie.
18:24At the minute, we're in the building, but then we're wandering around, you don't want to go to class,
18:29and it becomes the, let's chase Gracie May for an hour, and we can't be doing that.
18:34Tell me, what do you think is not quite right?
18:37I see it as a personal challenge, because we see the qualities that she hasn't quite recognised yet.
18:44I hate listening to people, like in school.
18:46Still like being told what to do.
18:47I want to be there, that moment when the penny drops and she thinks, actually, I'm a really decent human being,
18:54and I've got a really good future ahead of me.
18:58OK, but you are going to go through life having to listen to people.
19:01You know, in the past, like, two years, I've had a rough time.
19:07Fallouts, arguments, literally everything, boyfriends, literally everything.
19:12I was just like, what the hell?
19:13So I stopped coming to school, because I didn't come to school for so long.
19:17Just, just, I just get overwhelmed.
19:21I just don't like school.
19:22OK, you are entitled to your opinion.
19:26It 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.
19:35What 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. Ollie, 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.
20:17Like, I don't know.
20:18She 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.
20:43Are you in that thing all day?
20:50Yeah.
20:50Talking about, like, how to be comfortable when public speaking.
20:55So when you've done this course, you can do an assembly for me, then.
20:57Think of a topic.
20:58Lashes.
20:59A debate.
21:00Okay, we'll do a debate in assembly, then.
21:03We did one about having leggings at school.
21:06Lashes and leggings, L and L.
21:08Lashes, leggings and nails.
21:09Why, what's your issue with lashes and leggings?
21:11Because lashes and leggings are so comfortable to wear.
21:14He said, you've got to wear these.
21:15I don't think your lashes are comfortable.
21:17Are you passionate about languages?
21:20No.
21:21We're going to make the enthusiasm.
21:23Yeah.
21:24Oh.
21:25It's like a pantomime in here.
21:27Ladies, just find somewhere to sit, please.
21:29What on earth has happened to your hands?
21:30I don't know.
21:32You must know.
21:34That looks like a pen's being smudged everywhere.
21:36We're 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,
21:59I 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.
22:08I'm nervous about doing the speeches
22:10because you want to make a good impression.
22:12I think that they will grill me a bit
22:16about how are we going to make the school better.
22:20What time is it?
22:21Like 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.
22:33The rise out of floor.
22:34The role of head student is to be the representative
22:40for students across the school.
22:42We want somebody who's got a belief
22:46in 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.
22:56Hi.
22:57Hi.
22:58How are you?
23:00I'm good.
23:00How are you?
23:01Good to see you.
23:02You OK?
23:03Yeah.
23:04The floor is yours.
23:05Are you ready?
23:07So, I'm Darcy.
23:09As you know, I'm Darcy.
23:10The reason why I want the role
23:12is the ability to give a voice to students
23:14who feel they can't go directly to teachers
23:16to also help bring ideas to the school
23:20to make just school life for students
23:22that little bit easier.
23:24What do you think your strongest characteristic is
23:26and how do you think that would help you
23:27in the role of head student?
23:29I think my confidence.
23:31I think having the experience of performing
23:32with drama club and being a drama student,
23:35it's something that...
23:36It helps me with my confidence of public speaking.
23:38I know I can do it.
23:39It does get competitive.
23:42It matters a lot to them,
23:43so it probably puts them in a position
23:45pitting themselves against friends and mates
23:48that they haven't been in before.
23:50So, everybody who takes on a job or a new role
23:52or whatever it might be has got vulnerabilities.
23:54What do you think your biggest challenge would be
23:57if you were elected as head girl
23:59and how would you go about overcoming that?
24:05That's a very deep question.
24:07LAUGHTER
24:08It was definitely no racking being in front of
24:12the head teacher and 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, Jassy. Well done.
24:20Thank you. Great job. Well done.
24:24Some students who were doing what I would have done at school
24:26and putting themselves in situations
24:28that is scaring them to death
24:30and is completely out of their comfort zone,
24:32but they're doing it because there's something inside them
24:34telling them, you know, you've got the skills to do this.
24:38Do I go in now? Yeah.
24:39Yeah. Bye, bro.
24:43Hi. How are you all?
24:44Good, thank you. Are you? Thank you.
24:46Do I have to stand up or do you want me to sit down?
24:47Absolutely up to you.
24:49And when you're comfortable, when you're ready, the floor is yours.
24:52OK. Thank you.
24:53Why do I want to become a head girl?
24:58So, this is the worst bit.
24:59I hate talking about myself,
25:01but I think I have quite a good role,
25:03like, quite good skills to be in the role, sorry.
25:08I 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.
25:17I'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
25:25and make sure that they, you know, they 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,
25:40because 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,
25:48because you guys do so much and a lot of it isn't seen,
25:50and it should be.
25:52I think I've built good relationships with teachers,
25:55so hopefully they like my ideas
25:57and they'll get on board with me.
26:00Goody two-shoes, that's what they call me.
26:03Are you going for head girl,
26:04or is this a senior leadership job that you have to...?
26:06HE LAUGHS
26:06Head girl, but I'd be open to discussion.
26:08OK.
26:10One more question for me.
26:11It might be simple, it might not.
26:14Who's the panda?
26:16I just really like pandas.
26:18There's no symbolism behind the panda or anything like that?
26:20No, he just made me a little less anxious.
26:22OK, that's right.
26:23Well done. Proud of you.
26:24Thank you so much for listening.
26:26Take care.
26:26See you too.
26:27I was feeling so nervous going in, like, my hands were shaking like mad.
26:35I think if I didn't win, I'd be...
26:37I'd be a bit gutted, because I'd be like,
26:39oh, I really wanted that.
26:42Darcy's got really good ideas, and she's a brilliant prefect,
26:46so I wouldn't like to say my chances.
26:48HE SINGS
26:49Good morning.
26:56This 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.
27:16Keen to do all she can to get Gracie May in,
27:24Mrs Alley sends out the fun bus.
27:25It's your day.
27:33I'm coming.
27:34We'll come and take your love with...
27:35We'll save your hair, Gracie.
27:36Yeah.
27:37Come on, Gracie, it's meant to be our fun bus.
27:40No, I'm not getting it now.
27:42Don't just sit off now then, Gracie, and we'll meet you there, love.
27:45Yeah?
27:45What do you think about the attendance bus?
27:52Embarrassing.
27:53Even if I were, like, in Wakefield,
27:55and they couldn't be on that bus and I had to walk,
27:57so I'd rather walk.
27:58No thanks.
28:00Is she here?
28:01She is here.
28:03I 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
28:40and you're done with it all out here.
28:42You're the oldest students in school.
28:44It'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?
29:05Sure.
29:06You know you can come and talk to me all the time.
29:11Everything's just gone so quick.
29:16Like, yesterday I was in Year 7 and now I'm finishing school and my GCSEs.
29:22Do you feel a bit stressed?
29:23Yeah.
29:24I'm just more scared to just leave, like, there's not going to be the support.
29:30The thought of being in the world, like, just me by myself, just scares me.
29:36When 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.
29:45You just need to turn up and do the work.
29:50This is part of your growing up.
29:52It's daunting for them because they've been here for five years.
29:59They do want to leave, but a lot of them do get quite worried,
30:04even though they might not always admit to it,
30:07that they're leaving a bit of a safety night, really.
30:10Have you thought about where you're going to go?
30:14What do you mean?
30:14What would you like to do at college or what would you like as a job?
30:19Hair and beauty or construction.
30:22Nothing 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 some open events.
30:36Have a look round.
30:38That's so scary, though.
30:40But you know what would be even more scary?
30:42It's not going and looking round
30:45and 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, OK, then.
30:54Yeah, if I had them online.
30:56Yeah, but if they weren't right, you'd send them back.
30:59Yeah.
31:01When they leave at the age of 16
31:03and they're going to go into the world of college
31:05or the world of sixth form or apprenticeships
31:08or training or work or wherever it might be,
31:09at that point, they need to start taking more responsibility.
31:16The other thing about it, though, Grace,
31:18it's quite an exciting time for you, is this?
31:21It's scary.
31:22It is scary.
31:23But it's your next steps.
31:27The first rung on the ladder of responsibility
31:29is believing that you can.
31:31So when they leave us,
31:32they need to believe that they absolutely can.
31:33And we've got a job to be able to teach them the tools
31:37to be able to do that.
31:41Why are we late?
31:43Slept in, Evie? Why are we late?
31:45I put my car in the ice.
31:47Right, it's 30 minutes detention.
31:49I don't mind, Charlie.
31:50Can't know, Evie, cars do de-ice.
31:51She doesn't eat mine, he doesn't.
31:53OK, so, little quick tip for tomorrow.
31:56If you get to see one of those sandwich bags,
31:58you know a sandwich bag,
31:59a bag you put sandwiches in,
32:00full of warmish water, not hot,
32:02run it over the windscreen,
32:04it'll de-ice the car.
32:05And there's no excuse for being late.
32:07OK, I love this.
32:09It was just coincidence,
32:10but I just think it's really cute.
32:12It was sent from J. Frost.
32:15Frost?
32:15Like frosty weather.
32:16You with me?
32:17I don't know if you're getting it.
32:31I think realistically,
32:32the one that stood out for me was Alexa.
32:35With the presentations complete,
32:37the school is due to announce
32:39who will be crowned head girl.
32:42I agree that Alexa was very impact-driven
32:45and much more confident,
32:47and I thought she would be,
32:48which is a real positive.
32:50I thought she did a really good job of it.
32:52Darcy really impressed me.
32:54Darcy, I thought, was great,
32:55very pragmatic.
32:56I think she'd be really approachable
32:58for students as well.
32:59I think she is the type of character
33:00that you would want to go to.
33:03Alexa is resourceful
33:04and intelligent and kind.
33:06Alexa.
33:07Like superiority.
33:09Fantastic.
33:09This idea of him being superior.
33:12She works hard,
33:13she'd be nice, if you like.
33:14Now, one of the things
33:16Alexa lacks massively
33:17is confidence.
33:18It will be a challenge for her.
33:19Bear in mind how anxious she can get.
33:21Oh, I don't like science.
33:24Darcy May is
33:26passionate about the school
33:27and is an ambassador and role model
33:29for students to look up to.
33:31If we could combine Alexa
33:32and Darcy May,
33:33then I'm pretty sure
33:34we'd have almost
33:35that perfect head girl.
33:36Where's your vote going?
33:39Absolutely no comment.
33:40I'm pleading the fifth.
33:43Sorted.
33:44Brill?
33:44Yeah.
33:45Shall we get me?
33:45Yeah.
33:47Right, do you want to come in?
33:49Girls, come round this side.
33:52Is that everyone?
33:53Sorry.
33:53I think me and Alexa
33:56asked Mr Burton
33:57quite a few times.
33:58When are we going to find out?
33:59When are we going to find out?
34:01You all look so nervous.
34:03This is worse than the interview.
34:04It's absolutely not.
34:06You've done the hardest bit.
34:07The atmosphere of this office
34:08is crackling.
34:11People that I don't live with,
34:12like relatives in Wales,
34:14would be like,
34:14has she found out yet?
34:15I'm like,
34:15no, I've not found out.
34:18Do you want to do head girl?
34:19Yes.
34:20So, ladies,
34:21you did a phenomenal job.
34:23There can only be one winner.
34:25So,
34:25after a lot of deliberation
34:27and you made our jobs
34:28extremely difficult,
34:30we have determined,
34:32based on your interviews,
34:34that our head girl
34:35is going to be...
34:38The suspense.
34:40Yeah.
34:43Alexa,
34:44congratulations.
34:46You're all done.
34:48You were phenomenal.
34:50You almost made me cry
34:52as part of your interview.
34:53You were just so passionate
34:54about everything.
34:55Absolutely phenomenal job.
34:57Well done.
34:57Thank you so much.
34:58Darcy,
34:59you are our deputy head girl.
35:00You were just so good
35:02and I know that you guys
35:03will work in partnership
35:04and do amazing things.
35:05You've both got incredible ideas,
35:07so congratulations
35:08to both of you.
35:09Thank you so much.
35:09Thank you so much.
35:09Thank you so much.
35:10Thank you so much.
35:10Thank you so much.
35:10Thank you so much.
35:11Thank you so much.
35:11Thank you so much.
35:12Thank you so much.
35:12Thank you so much.
35:13You know,
35:13I've always wanted to be head girl.
35:15It's been something
35:16I wanted to do since
35:17year seven,
35:18but I think Alexa
35:19will do it amazing
35:20as head girl.
35:21Well done, everyone.
35:22Glad to hear you.
35:25When I heard her say it,
35:26I was a bit like,
35:26she said my name.
35:27You know,
35:28I was a bit like,
35:29wow.
35:30If I told six-year-old Alexa
35:33that I am now head girl,
35:35she wouldn't believe me.
35:36I never thought
35:37that I'd be able
35:38to, you know,
35:38get this far,
35:39but yeah,
35:40she'd be proud of me
35:41and I'm proud of myself.
35:42Okay.
35:43Kardashian it out.
35:47Girls,
35:48sit down or outside,
35:48please.
35:50Right.
35:50It's the uniform train
35:51and it's untidy.
35:53Shirt in.
35:54Tie on.
35:56Grazie.
35:58Please.
35:59No.
36:00I'm not taking you out
36:01of your whole geography
36:01just because you don't like
36:03your shirt.
36:03But if you don't,
36:04then I guarantee you
36:05that that guy
36:06will send me out.
36:06We'll just keep
36:07your mouth shut.
36:08He hates me for breathing.
36:11Don't breathe then.
36:12And then I'll die.
36:13Miss.
36:14Go on then.
36:14Miss.
36:15Yeah.
36:15Are you saying what?
36:16Yes.
36:16He's just wished
36:17death upon upon me.
36:19I don't think he has.
36:20He did.
36:20I said,
36:21I get him to him
36:21for breathing.
36:22He went,
36:22don't breathe then.
36:23That's the only thing
36:24we can suggest.
36:24Yeah.
36:25Go on,
36:26off we go.
36:29If you type in,
36:31her and you see that.
36:33It's Monday morning
36:34and it seems
36:36the message
36:36from her teachers
36:37is beginning
36:38to have an effect
36:39on Gracie May.
36:41She's taking
36:42her first steps
36:43to prepare for life
36:44after Thornhill.
36:46Is that something
36:47you'd be interested in?
36:48Yeah.
36:48Shall we apply for it now?
36:49Yeah.
36:50Right, this second?
36:51Yeah.
36:51Yeah, no time
36:52like the present.
36:53Scroll down.
36:56My future in my head,
36:58I want to have a good job,
36:59I want to be a family person.
37:02Hey, Tessie.
37:03Oh, hey, Lacey.
37:04Hey, you.
37:05One day I just want
37:06to have enough money
37:06to give my mum
37:07and just be like,
37:08stop working,
37:09I don't have that much money
37:10so I can just give my mum loads
37:12and just be like,
37:12do what you want.
37:14Take yourself all in here.
37:16Coming out tonight!
37:18Why not?
37:19I've got to revise,
37:20I've got exams all week.
37:21All this week
37:22and next week.
37:23Not the mocks?
37:24Yeah, they're,
37:24your predicted grades.
37:26You get your predicted grades
37:28and then they go to college as well.
37:29All your mock exam results,
37:30they go to college.
37:31How are you going to get to that dream?
37:33Just work hard.
37:36Just literally work hard.
37:38Guys, pray for me.
37:42Right, bye!
37:42Yes.
37:49Daughter dearest,
37:51you all right?
37:52Yeah.
37:53I'm good.
37:54What have you got on?
37:56We've got Learning for Life,
37:57period one,
37:58haven't we?
37:59So we're doing
38:00Kantian ethics.
38:01Yes.
38:02Are you going to ask a question?
38:04Oh, for God's sake,
38:05you are pathetic.
38:07You can reach down
38:08better than me.
38:14What's going on?
38:16Just a bit of shoe cleaning
38:17going on.
38:18Morning.
38:18Morning.
38:24Shirt in, please.
38:25Shirt in, tie on.
38:27What have you got?
38:28I'm glad my swimmer all right.
38:29I'll see you down there
38:29in a minute.
38:31It's Wednesday morning.
38:32Come on,
38:33nice and quick, please.
38:34And for the year 11s,
38:36mocks are in full swing.
38:40Right, I'm walking down to the exam.
38:41Have you got the exam as well?
38:42What exam is it?
38:42Geography.
38:43Okay, it's going to be fine.
38:44You got the mock?
38:45In geography.
38:46Perfect.
38:48Is Gracie here?
38:49Gracie's just got here now.
38:52I've offered to put her in the hall,
38:53but she's just walking away.
38:56Gracie May is in school,
38:58but is refusing to enter the exam hall.
39:01Come on, let's go.
39:02Come on, Gracie May.
39:03Off we go.
39:03Come on, Gracie, let's go.
39:04These exams are not about
39:05knowing everything that you need
39:06to know.
39:06And I know you've got massive gaps.
39:08What we need to know
39:09is what you don't know.
39:10And if that's everything,
39:11then that's everything.
39:11Well, it's everything.
39:12I'm going to sit there
39:13with nothing on my...
39:14So get some pen on paper
39:15and give it a go
39:16as best you possibly can.
39:17Have you got anybody
39:18who could have a word
39:18in Gracie's ear, please,
39:20about coming down to the exam?
39:21Just in the canteen now,
39:22by the radiator.
39:23I'm going down to the exam.
39:24All right, I'm just going to
39:25catch Gracie.
39:27Exams are so scary.
39:31When you get into the exam,
39:32your whole mind just goes blank.
39:34Like, that's...
39:34I don't know about other people,
39:35but that happens to me.
39:37Like, I could know everything.
39:39Like, I could literally know everything.
39:41And as soon as I get into the exam,
39:42look at the paper,
39:43my head just goes blank
39:44and I can't do it.
39:46Gracie?
39:46Come on.
39:50What's worrying you?
39:52Do you know what?
39:53You might go in there
39:54and really surprise yourself,
39:55but actually,
39:56you know more than you thought.
39:58No, because I don't know...
39:59I don't know anything.
40:01Just thinking right now,
40:02I don't know anything.
40:03I get that that kind of
40:05fear of failure
40:06and that fear of
40:08not knowing anything
40:09is something that might
40:11absolutely put you off,
40:13but you might just go in there
40:14and surprise yourself a little bit.
40:16It gives me anxiety
40:17and, like,
40:19it makes me not be able
40:20to read the questions and stuff.
40:22Like, I just...
40:23I can't, like,
40:24put it into words.
40:26How about if we put you
40:27somewhere a bit quieter
40:28where it feels
40:30a little bit less intrusive?
40:34Would you be willing
40:35to give something a go
40:36if it's in a different space?
40:39Yeah?
40:40Let me get a copy of the paper.
40:43I think trying to plan
40:44too far ahead
40:45feels unobtainable.
40:46So, actually,
40:48if we just think about
40:49the next few days ahead,
40:50let's get through those.
40:53If we take it
40:54a little bit at a time,
40:55it feels a lot more manageable.
40:59Right.
41:00Let's have a look.
41:02There's going to be
41:03a range of different questions.
41:04So, even some of them,
41:05even if you're not
41:06100% sure,
41:07you've got multiple choice
41:08questions in that
41:09we can give it a go,
41:09can't we?
41:10and then some of them
41:11are to do with
41:12your opinion on stuff.
41:14So, there's no right
41:15or wrong answer
41:16on a question like that.
41:17So, as long as you can
41:18justify your opinion
41:19on why you think
41:20a certain thing,
41:21you get marks.
41:23Shall we give those
41:24questions a go
41:24and see how you get on
41:25with them?
41:26Yeah?
41:26Have you got a pen?
41:29No.
41:29No?
41:30Have you?
41:31Is your phone in your bag?
41:33Are you happy if I put
41:33your bag just outside
41:34and you haven't got
41:35your phone in the exam room?
41:38When you're dealing
41:39with young people
41:40who do lack
41:41some self-belief,
41:42you can relate to that.
41:45Everybody's got
41:45a little bit of
41:46self-doubt
41:47or an area in their life
41:49where they don't feel
41:50as confident.
41:56Those are ways to...
41:59Oh, sorry.
42:14I feel everything I can't.
42:15Done.
42:16Let's have a look.
42:17How do you feel
42:18now you've done it?
42:20All right.
42:21Yeah, not as bad
42:22as you were expecting.
42:24Sometimes we build
42:25things up in our mind,
42:26don't we?
42:26And you think
42:27that barrier's there
42:28and you put a blocker there,
42:29but actually
42:30you can do it.
42:35Okay.
42:35Do you know what?
42:36I'm really proud of you
42:37for doing that.
42:38I didn't think
42:39we were going to get
42:40in this room
42:40and get it done.
42:41So well done you.
42:43When I was at school,
42:45I always had
42:46that niggling voice
42:47in the background
42:48telling you
42:49that I couldn't do things.
42:51So
42:52when I see that
42:53in the young person,
42:54I understand that.
42:56I've had those voices.
42:58I still have those voices.
42:59I'm not sure
43:00they ever
43:01fully go away.
43:05Really proud of you,
43:06Bracey.
43:06Well done.
43:08My job
43:09is to help students
43:10find a way
43:11of controlling
43:11that volume themselves.
43:14Yeah,
43:15makes me quite emotional.
43:16Alabama,
43:23Arkansas,
43:24I do love my mum and pa.
43:26Not in the way
43:27that I do love you.
43:29I don't know.
43:34Home is whenever
43:35I'm with you.
43:37We're listening
43:37to that song.
43:38The power
43:43that children
43:44have got
43:44to just make you
43:45sit up and go,
43:46goodness me,
43:47where did that come from?
43:48My next-door neighbour
43:48is called Gary.
43:49My dog is called Gary.
43:51OK,
43:51let's pretend
43:51this is Gary Barlow.
43:53Is that a person?
43:54It just keeps you
43:55relentlessly entertained
43:56and interested
43:57and engaged.
43:58I mean,
43:58I think putting a zipline
43:59in school
43:59is probably a little bit
44:00beyond what we can do.
44:02Keeps it really,
44:03really,
44:03really positive,
44:04even in really challenging
44:05times for education.
44:06I know you'll be doing
44:07something behind me
44:08in 200 classrooms,
44:09Jacob.
44:11Own up to it.
44:12He says heard it
44:12and he knows
44:13it was somebody
44:14who made the big noises.
44:16The reason people
44:17work in school
44:18is because they
44:18want to make a difference
44:19and the staff here
44:20are so dedicated
44:20to making sure
44:21that young people
44:22get their very best
44:22chance in life.
44:25Kind of looks like
44:25Mr. Hall.
44:26All the wash browns!
44:28Shouting out...
44:29An answer.
44:31No, no,
44:31he shouted out mango.
44:33Mango?
44:34But nobody goes
44:35into schools
44:35for an easy ride.
44:36It's an emotional
44:37rollercoaster.
44:38Just leave me alone,
44:39I can tell you
44:40don't want me!
44:41We do want you here, pal.
44:43Come on.
44:45And when you're
44:46dealing with
44:46the futures
44:47of the next generation...
44:50Right, breathe in,
44:51breathe out,
44:51deep breaths.
44:54It's high-stakes stuff.
44:58And we don't get
45:00any other chances
45:01to get this right.
45:03I'm in.
45:03Oh, that is
45:04fantastic news.
45:06I'm really, really
45:06proud of you, Scott.
45:07Absolutely buzzing.
45:09He's good.
45:10You are good.
45:11Wow.
45:13To see them
45:13in school
45:14and thriving
45:15is really inspiring
45:16and really heartwarming.
45:17ready?
45:18Ready?
45:19Three, two, one.
45:20Yay!
45:24Alexa.
45:26There's so much hope
45:27for the future.
45:28Oh, hope.
45:30Let me go home.
45:32There are times
45:33when children,
45:34teenagers,
45:35get a really bad reputation
45:36in the media
45:37and across society.
45:40But teenagers
45:41are still teenagers.
45:42this will go through
45:43the same experiences
45:44and emotions
45:45and ups and downs
45:46that they always have done
45:47and always will do.
45:48Keep being you.
45:50Never change for anyone else.
45:53There's a lot of fabulous.
45:54Really good people,
45:55making good choices,
45:56doing good things.
45:59It's an absolute privilege
46:00to have been involved
46:01in that really important
46:02time in their lives.
46:03Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:06Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:07Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:08Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:09Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:10Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:11Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:12Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:13Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:14Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:15Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:16Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:18Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:19Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:20Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:21Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:22Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:24Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:25Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:26Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:28Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:29Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:30Daddy, I'm coming home.
46:31Daddy, I'm coming home.
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