Educating The East End - Episode 1 (Documentary) | Our Stories

[Applause] and one of her latest recruits mr. Biswas to teaching drover come in Miss Smith took him on 18 months ago as part of a learn on the job training placement when I first met mr. Biffen I was really impressed by his passion let's get going got grooves on ready to learn but he was quite intimidated by what was ahead of him because I thought of suddenly being in front 30 you know and he's a big old ask fight the power 50% stand up for 50 percent motivational speeches wakey-wakey I want them to it sort of dancing and ready to learn and you know mr. best fam you're amazing we are now into our third week of much ado about nothing we've watched it without looking at a context Joseph is my name [Music] presume wherever is good right Cyprien my biggest challenge is that year knowing class the year nine girls are a force of nature Shaza Tiana acacia and some are you know I don't know if I I think without us then like the cost be bit boring okay sure Wow this is the time for work I think that's a really good question he looks like a little teddy bear with bald head and a little bit it's quite funny when he loses temper he gets really frustrating he goes his lips like go even the little even he's bored of it goes back red everything is so for me I think you can tell yeah only because they're like jumpy I wouldn't want to be in their teacher how does Shakespeare portray actors used to women at that for scene one I would challenge anyone to stand in front of those girls and not be a little bit daunted Tony is one of mr. Biswas most vocal year nines Tony's always singing when it goes quiet class just hear those in tones of Tony it's quite sweet really [Music] at the end of year 9:20 hopes to leave Frederick Bremer she's recently auditioned for the performing arts Brit school in South London I want to go to let's go hopefully ago university or hopefully before that yet as my mom says gets get noticed in the cloud what does it mean fantastic I want to be even a singer or an actress or possibly both I would have hand being in these tenders I could be bianca is the long-lost sister or sauce no you know you can't miss you're my monster I'll come that's a no I've been earrings man since she's auditioned for the Brit school tourneys desire to stand out from the crowd has caught the eye of Deputy Head miss Hillman I don't see what's the point of not having no piercings because it's not gonna affect my learning at the end today right so you need to comply with the school rules and you need to take the piercing out and if you get into the Brit school I really hope that you do then that's fantastic but at the moment you're at Frederick Bremer you see it's an interesting one about your reference to the Brit school as well because if I was writing that reference I would have so many glowing things to say about you but I would say at the bottom sometimes Tony finds it difficult to follow school procedures because I would have no option other than to do that so I want to make sure that you are absolutely crystal clear what this will mean if you don't take it out yeah sure yeah okay how did the interview go yeah my nan was like she's a determing Jones should go with you or no yes you are a very determined girl and that's why we're in this situation at the moment because you are a determined girl but that determination about the wrong things will not lead to greatness at all all right bye-bye [Music] right good morning is it worth saying anything about piercing well I'm on a bit of a piercing mesh because I'm wondering whether it's worth scientist after the only piercing allowed is in a single in the ear now I'm so anal about Nigel don't go there I [Music] would like you to imagine you are here oh it's mid-morning and mr. Biffen has his year 9 class he joined Fredrik Bremer 18 months ago through the teach first scheme after leaving a career in politics I became increasingly disaffected with the political sphere I mean it's quite self-serving and not really making a difference is what I wanted to do I want your own response to Claudio if you are called a rotten orange and a one time which means a prostitute this term he's trying to engage his year nines in Shakespeare teaching Shakespeare is a challenge they wish don't see how it's relevant to them they'd understand its power they just that what but if you bring our live they'll learn and I really fundamentally believe that this rotten orange to your [Music] [Music] [Music] when it goes wrong and especially when it goes back your heart plummet you've worked on this lesson you've wanted to be good you're also concerned about the progress that these kids are showing and then it falls to pot every time I turn my back something was happening that was quite frankly dangerous I'm waiting for a second so I think the people are ready to this oh I think I dated the moment Sonia okay she's not ready to listen we are ready to listen when I first started teaching it feels like a million years ago it wasn't actually that long ago yeah it was hard cuz I came in with an absolute idealism of why I wants to do the job and actually what you realized very quickly is it's really hard to balance the idealism with the difficulties of dealing with a group of adolescents it's really actually bloody hard this job I don't want to be a ordinary teacher I don't want to be coming in to get a paycheck rolling out a lesson I've done before that's gonna get them passed their exams but not gonna inspire any interest but just so much I find really challenging about the job [Music] see you later mr. firm how are you I'm good thank you how are you I'm fine and I don't know how you feel about this that I need to become and doing less than observation yeah fine stick legit in your year knowing class yeah that would be a be good yeah yeah yeah that's absolutely [Music] it's Monday lunchtime and practice for Tony and the rest of the school choir [Music] Tony's still waiting to hear if she's got into the Brit school but she's not the only one that's auditioning her best friend Alice is also competing for a place well when they need to have all their last because he makes teacher power so many ways to change after jungly nice their plan with my sense I like having my hair and face lunch but I'm not going to be swayed because somebody tells me to I make music to be a musician or not to be on the cover of Playboy [Applause] she's gonna sing in acting and she's good at arts in Miss I've got an audition tomorrow suddenly it's for what she auditioned for but you'll break my heart if you leave no don't tell no one now if she got in and I didn't I'd be really upset and I keep thinking about it and and it's just it makes my heart pump a lot this is it gets me scared yeah by singing not everyone knows about fiscal here's that if I was like it and then I have to go through people wind him up about it so it's best if anyone knows about you the answer his dreams in four weeks mr. Biswas as an observation of his year nine class with head teacher Miss Smith this term he's using role play to engage them in Shakespeare the other is Beatrice I would like you to practice how you think these lights should be sent to each other off you go I think Tony has got a lot of talents you know she's quite an actress projection voice very well to be honest with you always at the right time you have to have key characters come with you and if you've got them they will take the whole class with them so if I can get her on side you know I am happy and confident we can have a great lesson who would like to have a go at showing people how they think it should be ready Charlie up you go okay Jonah Jonah face turn and face Tony Kahn you under Tony I wouldn't have this at the Brits go what they know because you said to me you you want to that's what you said yeah [Music] that's pissed me off everyone sits down [Music] okay Sita Leila Andre hey Tay reveal leave them on the phone so I look like them in a second Tony yeah look at me I don't want to why are you angry at me because no one knows that I've auditioned for the Brit school cuz I didn't know you'd audition for the Brit school so how did you know because I was I was referring to the fact that remember at the beginning of the year you were talking about how you really really wanted to go to the Brit school and I was just trying to encourage you to do some drama if I'd known of course I wouldn't have brought it up so you accept my apology yes you can't swear people to this right you're being quite rude now cuz I'm nothing but calmly Jovie I didn't I need to be a proper apology note and she looking about Tony I'd like you to sorry sir okay I really really appreciate that apology and you accept mine mmm shake a shake on it you always shaking her why not [Music] so anyone yeah I'm fine I'm just tired just a series of lessons there and a massive hour Tony another drama work and that means I comma Tony cool if you're not gonna get into physical feel it again yeah yeah I was a good point they wouldn't have a drama school if you go out to perform and you just like giggling and being silly I wouldn't have hurt I said you're gonna need to apologize to me and she eventually did they are dealt with it quite well cuz we all make mistakes that you know she needs to learn to find out like that and in the class I'm just an on the straights genome it's mid-morning and there's been a serious incident in school go percent semi naked photos of her sales for students and occasionally face topler did you see it how they described in ya face aims if you were beatrice you might use the term cold blood hello miss acacia miss wants to speak to you [Music] head teacher Miss Smith is called year 9 acacia to her office she's been accused of posting a semi naked photo of another girl on Facebook you know ask you a direct question know what an honest response okay did you put a picture on Facebook yes yeah why because she used to be rude to me and she used to clean stock I don't like it Luanne did you get the picture from for Facebook then you made the decision to put it on your facebook and then add a it's actually put a hot rod do you know what you've done is a criminal act hey it's against the law to distribute pictures of naked young people okay and that's really really serious okay if that was an adult who had done it they would be looking at going to prison you have to have a tough line on social media because they have to be exposed to the dangers that they're placing themselves in things can get around to a thousand thousands of people in seconds it's the only thing we can do to make them learn and not make that mistake as punishment acacia will be temporarily excluded from school for up to three days Miss Smith will also deal with the students that initially uploaded the photograph acacia is sent to Miss Hillman to discuss her exclusion I've loaded it for like three minutes and like sixty odd people has already seen it and liked it and I was like oh my gosh cuz I'm Facebook I have like over a thousand people on it I've got a thousand friends on Facebook how many of those people do you consider to be your friends proper friends true friends six now listen I've spoken to mr. Smith and Miss Smith wants you out of school for a date tomorrow as an excursion and I think that's the right decision I don't feel good tomorrow I don't my mom you don't need not live with mum you living with her for my arm right mom's really sir right okay so where's mum at the matter no she's here but where is she at the moment in Harrow in hospital or yeah right okay okay I I understand that that's a horrible and difficult situation to be in but we have to make a phone call to the to your carer okay acacia smun has a chronic condition that affects her digestive system she's been in hospital for the last ten weeks after undergoing emergency surgery she's been poorly for like I think seven years long the surgery didn't go too great so mom's even worse than before like things were kind of sad but I just go to school and then um I try not to be both [Music] due to a case home situation miss Hillman decides that she can serve her punishment in the school intervention room Bonjour Monsieur suburbian FC how's your lesson [Music] guys guys in all seriousness I am how are you nervous breakdown your bring it on it's Friday and mr. best fam has two weeks until miss Smyth observes his lesson of a backwards to a woman acacia is back in class and since falling out with mr. Biswas Herb Ritts cool audition tourneys behaviour has been deteriorating stop it he was my focus Tori leave I think I imagined teaching being difficult I don't think I ever really imagined the type of difficulty that would be involved Tony I am going to have to put you into the departmental parking what I have it detention after school and you'll have a detention you get three warnings I can't force the backi ahead Josh one what some police parent in the weaker moments I think can I do this if you're not achieving it's it's hard to take I've seriously thought about leaving teaching on together staying a normal job just all the exhaust thing in it don't he do that's what I'm paradis on you read you the news yeah and I know you guys to maybe be that man up but it takes my feelings you haven't me I'm asleep on the sofa most nights by 9:00 just like that passed out like I've got no life it does get it does get easier yeah [Music] you're right Tony yeah who said you having a bad day yeah you upset about when did you find out how sad I know you had your heart set submitting you what about Allister - she waited - dude that makes it worse oh well is some deep breaths and you know sometimes these things make us stronger resilience yeah it was just one painful piece of paper I didn't read it oh I just looked down to look for like you know them where's that unfortunately or something like that and then I saw that and I just knew that again me and my mom kept thinking that maybe they've sent the Rambla or something but everything this happens when I found out that Alice got in it hit me more she was like have you got a letter from the Brits and there's that not yet because I was just in bit about it if I do get a second chance I don't know if I've got it or not because if you've gotten then you've got a bigger envelope and if you haven't then you've just got one when you can't sign my task [Music] I'm excited like I just want to start now it's quite hard because I want to talk about all the time because I'm excited but then I don't want her to feel like I'm showing off or anything I don't know like I thought really so far I'm talking now it's Tuesday morning mr. Biswas just over a week until his observation with Miss Smith and he's bringing a new discipline to the classroom last lesson you had one of the worst lessons you've had as a group this year summer I'm still talking today you were gonna be working independently you're not gonna be talking you're going to experience what the alternative is like game I don't want your opinions why are people talking I want this year knowing her to demonstrate that people learn better when it's more fun and more interactive but you've gotta behave in a way that allows that to happen otherwise people would tell me that it's not is everyone clear on that are we all clear on that good it was the West worst of English never again he didn't even want to talk to any of us you know so confident it was just so unbelievable like just a service party and then everyone was just talking about all that might be family problems was how it enough I think it affects their learning because if it's suffix boring no one's going to want to do it now you can pack up thank you because I need your support its options night for year nine and a chance for all students and parents to discuss what subjects they want to take for GCSEs occasions mom has been released from hospital to attend the hospital go be such an aggravation to come you know those cuz they're always making a fuss about how you're trying to escape they tried to say to me I couldn't go with the morphine no she said it starts in ten minutes everybody let's go of him my mum taught me to do really good at school college university and then be successful and make Harwich no crazy really me off the balcony this is traveling in style honey but he's down for drama it's time for drama in drama helps you interact it helps you biz and i interviews it helps you get along was like teaming who's that's right what level do you think she's at don't want she can't do things that normal parents can do thank you lovely when they're in the main I remember before when she was in just normal she said we used to go out all the time have parties she was so happy and I found myself but now if I do any of that and it started because my little brother he's seven and he doesn't really know how my mom was before because I'm not interested in where we are in performance tables [Music] [Music] it's the next day and miss Hillman wants to make sure that acacia is coping now that her mom has returns a hospital last week I went see one every day and you're managing yeah any eating properly while all this is going on yeah cuz anyway back we go and get something healthy food or McDonald's and sometimes McDonald's nice next time work happening okay their homework is a bit of a problem but a little wake up earlier to come to school and there were only 24 hours in a day is there any point in this when you're gonna fall apart I don't really fall apart like that if you feel you need somebody when you promise me that you'll tell me yeah I think particularly for children like acacia when life is is crazy there's so much going on whatever the situation might be school is a great normalizer you know you walk through the gates of this school and it's normal the bells are still going the lessons are still going on you're still gonna get shouted out if you're late we will be here doing the same thing providing that education and I think that's really important for acacia promise you let me know yeah all right I hope the weekend goes really well thank you I'm not grapple it means Rhett not scrabble but if it was rebel I would beat you out and now I'm a Scrabble champion oh I would [Music] it's a big day for mr. Biswas he has an observation of his year nine English class with head teacher Miss Smith and assistant head miss Higgins my comment would have upset I mean my seat impacts have changed it not long ago just because they're annoying me it's terrifying they've trusted you in their school and they've believed in here and this is your chance to prove you're doing it right the results of this observation will count towards the final assessment of his two-year placement I would imagine that mr. best firms very nervous about his observation he's not been teaching for very long and he's got the head teacher and mrs. Higgins who's probably the most awesome teacher in the school coming in to observe his lesson and I would be quite scared if Miss Higgins coming in to watch my lesson can I explore what makes successful persuasive writing that's what we're really looking at we're getting at the ball involved now I am going to pass the ball to someone and they're gonna tell me a persuasive technique emotive language emotive language do you know I feel that for him nervous but then I know he's gonna do a big so it doesn't work for you but can you see how that might work for other readers yeah the whole class went on that put effort into it and make him proud because he's putting all this effort in for us to get our levels up so he deserves that back to find his helpful yeah I like that along we want other teachers to see that he's a good teacher cause he's us because he is it's just I don't know thank you in a way doesn't grab your attention in a way of fanning out someone's only got one lung he's gonna make you directly think about that effect of smoke is there smelling isn't that bad competitor costing you money compared to what's Mikey so upset cuz I don't like seeing you like this [Music] either about it during the lesson yeah so I always cry but I don't tell people George can talk to someone I'm not gonna let you just stay being upset all day you know we're all here to support you yeah okay go and get yourself put it out you can use those toilets wash her face but she she's gonna come back of course then I don't know why this would have recessions all right to come back and answer so I can you ask me a minute is that all right yeah absolutely and we're gonna go oh yeah thank you you're right huh me you're right to get back in do you want to go and speak to anyone today are you sure I thought don't make sure that Rapids came in fourth thing just be outside you just want to sit here mr. Goodloe okay close your box [Music] it's the day after mr. Biswas observation and he's come in early to get feedback from Miss Smith acacia strike down in class is still on his mind okay she's a really sweet girl who is dealing with some horrible situations I never came as this job to upset people you really don't want people feeling like that in your class good morning sir [Music] you ready okay so first of all be helpful if you could just go through what you think went well yeah and if weird that magical benefit of hindsight what you would see differently if you had to do it again obviously with acacia mm-hmm that was a little bit thoughtless having something like that and then knowing her situation and knowing how that can affect her mm-hmm yeah okay so we're gonna go through a few bits of feedback I mean the first thing to remember in terms of an observation is you've only been teaching for 18 months without any training whatsoever what I think to work on is things like shouting outs hmm and making sure that you do insist on standard English correct so somebody said and I think it was Jessica at one point that's bear Longman as an English teacher particularly you should be absolutely it should be you need to address that yeah um however we wouldn't have known that you're a second you teach first attacking that I said no that's okay you know they're not easy kids you've got some very you know girls who can be very challenging however it's quite evident that they've made quite a lot of progress as a results of teaching that they've received one of the questions I asked them was them do like English all of them said yes eighteen months in I think that's pretty good thank you where we would judge that lessons being where we would judge that lesson as being a good lesson across the three strands okay and which for where you are is phenomenal I am really excited about the potential that you're showing in the classroom I'll see you later [Music] good morning morning good across the board I got the wine feedback good got my feedback look it Joe is a very very reflective teacher and we'll probably over think what happened with acacia I think it doesn't matter how hard you try it there is always gonna be something that you might do in a lesson which will trigger something in a pupil but the most important thing is we have the support in place ready to help kids when they need it [Music] it's break time wait do you have enough rigid acacia and home support worker Miss Austen awaiting to see miss Hillman Miss Smith is a little concerned about you she said you were really upset you know I think it's really important that someone in school is a kind of person even if it's mostly about the academic stuff or allowing you the opportunity to use the phone to ring your mum if you need to and I think miss Austin's the best person to do that so how do you feel about that he wants that you don't dare say no in front of me no feelings you like oh she's alright okay she's made it clear at the moment she doesn't want that counts in their relationship where someone really gets in under the surface so let's Park that and let's tackle your homework is tackle your progress in lessons things like things yeah this is like the florinela that everyday dialog and those great relationships between staff and students happen all the time and I think that's what makes the fabric of this school the little pep talks I think they are absolutely you know crucial to to building the resilient bright aspirational kids that leave our school Tony nice pitch yourself in the night in trouble I heard about your news from protocol I'm really this point a few but I'm also really glad because I enjoy having you in class plenty of people have been successful the dingos to the brita corner yeah yeah so don't get too down on it and keep working hard at school cuz it's still important alright alright okay I'm not gonna stop my drama I'm gonna try and do shows in the track at night yes but obviously if I ain't getting nowhere then I've got my backup plan to do hairdressing you're annoying end of year GCSE style exam we're gonna make our work better but everyone else in the school yeah Connors like yeah course we are I think they are beginning to see that I am really doing all this stuff for them Nathan you can go Brian you can go brahim you can go reveal you can go okay sir you can go it's only you can go you know it's not a battle anymore - it's turning into a partnership which is exciting now Gallacher loose loose kick off your sunday shoes there's been some real lows that really made me consider is this what I want to do but the idea of moving away from these kids and this school now it just feels all wrong bollocks a bus [Music] stop singing please do you really feel this way about him he must not allow such as home waster to brainwash you love cannot exist I'm thankful for my cold blood because I shall not experience such pain you okay I hear my hero how many times must I warn you before you bother to marry Oh hero next time Halil you got no nuts the trouble with boys we've all had haircuts up in handcuffs we hail from one of the youngest just Punk control myself to one of the eldest I'm not coming on a Wednesday I'm gonna ignore that no mom it's time for the boys to become men you

Channel: Our Stories

Views: 1,639,956

Keywords: Educating Essex, Educating Yorkshire, Educating: What I Wish I'd Known..., Educating Greater Manchester, Educating Cardiff, Educating East End, Educating The East End - Episode 1

Id: E5tXE3WVoSM

Length: 43min 23sec (2603 seconds)

Published: Fri Feb 14 2020