Educating …

A group of GCSE students face the most important year in their education.

11 Votes (7.3)

2011 HD 60min United Kingdom English Returning Series
Documentary
school teacher education wales education system public education

Credits:

S1E1 - Essex Episode 1 2011-09-22

The first programme of the series joins Passmores Schools deputy head Mr Drew on the front line of school discipline. Dealing with emotional teenagers, enforcing detentions and maintaining the schools high standards - as well as teaching history - is all in a days work for Mr Drew. Some love him, others love to hate him. Its the last few days of term before Christmas and Mr Drew has more to contend with than a few snowballs in the playground. When a row over school uniform escalates, an accusation from a pupil threatens to derail his entire career.

S1E3 - Essex Episode 3 2011-10-06

Charming but cheeky Vinni was a model student when he started at the school. But since the break-up of Vinnis parents marriage his behaviour has deteriorated. So much so that head teacher Mr Goddard worries whether Vinni will make it to the end of Year 11. And some staff question how far the school can go to keep him in school. When Vinnis home situation dramatically changes, it has a huge impact on his school life and leads Mr Goddard to one of the most heartbreaking moments in his career.

S1E4 - Essex Episode 4 2011-10-13

Final year students Sky and Liams world is turned upside down when they discover theyre expecting a baby. Sky desperately wants to finish school, but will she manage to when the baby is due at the same time as her GCSEs? Luke has a troubled relationship with school. His temper can get the better of him and the staff worry whether they can coax him to the end of the year and the GCSEs that will help determine his future. As autumn exam week arrives, Mr Drew hands out performance-enhancing brain food (fruit) to the students and deals with Luke as he walks out of the hall mid-paper. Meanwhile, first-year student Ciaran has an unusual request for headteacher Vic Goddard: he wants time off from lessons to write a novel.

S1E5 - Essex Episode 5 2011-10-20

Carrie and Ashleigh are at the heart of the biggest and loudest clique in school: they love clothes, boys and parties. But teenage girls also love a drama and as the best friends fall out, the argument looks set to disrupt more than their friendship, with the effects spilling into the classroom. In a modern school, arguments are harder to contain as the issues spread from the classroom to Facebook and BlackBerry Messenger . The school grapevine is soon buzzing. Meanwhile, Ashleighs ex-boyfriend Brad is prepared to fight for her love and the teachers discover how tough it can be to keep students focused on academic work and their futures when there are so many distractions.

S1E6 - Essex Episode 6 2011-10-27

Has deputy head Mr Drew finally met his match in clever but complicated student Mollie? As Mollie finds herself on report to him so begins a series of demanding, but often delightful, daily encounters between teacher and pupil. Another regular with Mr Drew is Mollies equally bright sister Charlotte, who viewers saw bantering with the deputy head earlier in the series. Can the schools teachers coax the two talented girls to finally apply their energy to their academic work? For all the pouting and tantrums it soon becomes clear that Mollie is actually very fond of Drewy and that student and teacher have more in common than they might have once thought. But will she listen enough to achieve the grade As she is capable of?

S1E7 - Essex Episode 7 2011-11-03

As leavers day, exams and the all-important prom approach, the school tries to prepare two very different students for the future. Fifteen-year-old Ryan, a recent arrival at the school, has Aspergers. Unsure of what the future will hold, the teachers attempt to equip him for life beyond the security of the school gates. While Ryan wishes he could stay at school forever, troubled top-set student Vinni cant wait to leave. He voluntarily went into temporary care earlier in the term and now the staff work tirelessly to keep him on the straight and narrow. Will Vinni leave the care home to move back to his family, can the teachers help him to leave with the grades and opportunities his abilities deserve, and will his behaviour improve enough for him to attend the prom? Perhaps more nervous than them all, however, is headteacher Vic Goddard. He finds it hard to sleep in the run-up to results day as he waits to see whether the school will achieve its targets.

S2E1 - Yorkshire Episode 1 2013-09-05

This episode follows new Head Teacher Mr Mitchell on his mission to improve the schools fortunes. Hes 18 months into his first ever headship and wants to revolutionise the schools ethos, results and reputation. But every day his vision is challenged by the trickiest of adversaries: teenagers.

S2E3 - Yorkshire Episode 3 2013-09-19

This episode focuses on two strikingly similar boys: one nearing his final year and another whos starting out at secondary school. Both are exploding with energy and charm but, to their teachers frustration, neither of them is particularly interested in learning. As Year 10 student Tom approaches his GCSEs, his failure to settle down is starting to cause concern. And although Year 7 Robbie-Joes constant chatter seems harmless (and is often hilarious) his teachers are worried its a sign of more serious things to come. The programme follows the school in their attempts to channel Tom and Robbie-Joes boundless energies in the right direction, revealing how a chance, life-changing event radically alters the course of Toms year and watching as the school do all they can to intervene early with Robbie-Joe. Ultimately, this is a film about two inspirational teachers guiding two lively lads through some of the toughest times they will face at school.

S2E4 - Yorkshire Episode 4 2013-09-26

This episode presents the unlikely friendship of Hadiqa and Safiyyah. As headteacher Mr Mitchell says, these are the last two children that youd expect to be best mates. Irrepressibly chatty Safiyyah punctuates every sentence with innit. She dreams of becoming an air hostess, while gifted student Hadiqa has her sights set on becoming prime minister. As pastoral year leader Mrs Crowther knows only too well, close friendships mean everything when youre a teenager. But as exams approach, a crisis in Hadiqa and Safiyyahs friendship threatens to derail the girls academically and cause major upset.

S2E5 - Yorkshire Episode 5 2013-10-03

Everything changes in Year 9. Its full of hormonal 13-year-olds and is a critical academic turning point as the students choose their options for GCSE. Its a year when Thornhills students, hopefully, do some dramatic growing up but its also the year with the worst behaviour record in the school. Tasked with guiding his students through a perfect storm of adolescent pressures is Head of Year Mr Moses: an unlikely pacifier of teenage angst. His job, as a pastoral leader, is to keep every Year 9 student on the straight and narrow. This year, one student proves particularly testing and strikes a chord with Mr Moses. Meanwhile, not all is complete in the Head of Years own life: Mr Moses is looking for love.

S2E6 - Yorkshire Episode 6 2013-10-10

Exams are approaching at Thornhill and its not just the students that are feeling the pressure. From highly experienced deputy head Mr. Steer to newly qualified teachers, everyone is feeling the demands of the schools ever increasing targets. Mr. Steer is in charge of the schools attainment and, as a rapidly improving academy, must ensure that results are the very best they can be. He is also a star maths teacher and this year has a particularly tough challenge as he takes on a group of girls more interested in hair, make-up and parties than algebra and trigonometry. Despite their current U grades, hes determined to get them that crucial C in maths that will ensure them places in college. Meanwhile, new teacher Miss Stephens is tasked with getting Sheridan through her geography GCSE, but engaging Sheridan in an academic debate around the European Union is not easy. As the clock ticks down to the all-important exams, Mr. Steer pushes himself to the limit...

S2E7 - Yorkshire Episode 7 2013-10-17

Jack loves history but is disruptive, and the school staff are worried that he may become Mr Mitchells first ever permanent exclusion. Can Jack and his teachers turn around his behaviour?

S2E8 - Yorkshire Episode 8 2013-10-24

Its the final months of school and the Year 11 students are preparing for life beyond Thornhill. English teacher Mr Burton is one of a kind. Hes an Assistant Head at just 30 years old, and music, fancy-dress and jumping on tables are all part of his teachers toolkit. This year, he has his most challenging C/D borderline class so far, and two of his students pose very different challenges. Musharaf has a severe stammer, and anxiety about leaving Thornhill seems to have made it worse. As Musharaf prepares for his GCSE English oral exam, Mr Burton is prepared to try any tactic, no matter how unusual, to help improve his fluency. Meanwhile, Hannah would be capable of A grades, were it not for her aversion to staying in class. The school staff are concerned about her not achieving her potential, and wish shed devote more energy to staying in lessons than finding excuses to escape them. Can Mr Burtons unique teaching style help his students make the grade?