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