Behave Yourself Our School

Each September, half a million children begin the most

important year of school so far...

-..Year 7.

-Boom!

CBBC have rigged this secondary school with loads of cameras

so you can see exactly what happens...

..as they make new friends and get into trouble.

If you wish to find out how strict I can be,

then break the rules I set down.

I'm not spotting make-up there, am I?

But what they learn here, will stay with them forever.

Hello there, I'm Mr Thoburn and I'm a science teacher here.

If you've ever wondered what secondary school is like,

here's your chance to find out. This is Our School!

HE BURPS

How can you do that?

This time, we're meeting Jessica and Jamie.

Two big personalities trying to settle into life at Our School.

-These are like the best things in the world.

-I know.

Despite not knowing anyone here,

within days, Jessica's already making friends.

Jess is probably the chattiest.

She's loud, Jessica, she is loud.

But she's nice. She's nice, Jess, she's not nasty or anything.

P-E-R-F-E-C-T, perfect.

I thought she'd be all quiet for the first week,

because, like, it's the first week, you don't want to get detention

or anything, but she's as loud as! She shouts and stuff.

Yay!

She makes me laugh when I'm upset and she's always there to

-care for everyone.

-Who wants an ice cream parlour?

-Me!

She's that type of person who's humorous and can make friends

-just like that.

-And you won't, like, shy away from anybody.

Cos you'll be like, "Oh, she's funny, I should laugh at the jokes."

Do you want to go walkies, girl?

Outside school, Jessica has a really busy life.

I think that I'm more responsible than other 11-year-olds.

I walk the dog, cook my tea, normally.

One, two, three...

I have a little brother, Joe, he's almost three

and I change Joe's nappies. I have to wipe his bum!

Well, my favourite hobbies are, like, football.

But I don't want to get too carried away,

so I look like a tomboy.

Know what I mean? So... Football, I love tag rugby.

And most of all dancing, I love dancing so much.

Going to a new school, it's a bit scary

because popular is just like, loads of people want to be your friend,

but fitting in is more important, because you want to fit in with

the teachers, friends, who you're going to sit next to in class.

Talk together, work as a team.

But I'm not sure about being popular.

I think my new school friends would think of me like...

Really like a best friend, a close friend

because I'm really cheeky, funny, friendly and they'd like it.

Get your sticker sheets out, so I can give you your...

your "I can do electricity, me" sticker.

'But being so friendly and chatty, means Jessica sometimes finds it

'hard to focus in class.'

Electrical current, very good.

If you have... Oi!

'And she soon catches my eye.'

Rule number one, when I'm talking, you're not, OK?

Right, so we're going to do about electricity today.

Someone's took my folder. That's mine.

Hello there.

'Time to have a little word.'

That's all right, Jess...Jess is going to get one anyway.

Yay. Thanks, Sir.

You're welcome, you did the work, you're just a little bit too chatty.

So do you think...? Hey, do you think...? It's all right!

Look, I understand. I was, you know...

-She's a girl.

-No, that's got nothing to do with it,

I just want you to try a little bit harder next time just to think...

Oi, look at me. Look, you're not in trouble, right?

I just want you to try a little bit harder next time, just to try

and think about, "If I open my gob and talk about this,

"will Thoburn blow his top?"

All I want to do is... You're a lovely girl

and I just want you to do well, OK?

Right, but don't make us angry at you

because I hate getting angry. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

You're welcome. There you go.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Thoburn thinks I'm lovely.

I think everybody's nice, this is a lovely, lovely class.

Even him?

Even him. Give me your sticker sheet.

Mr Thoburn, he's like really nice

and normally he does shout a little bit because he's sick of people.

Shhhh. Write them down!

Like talking in lessons, and when he says I'm a little chit-chat,

I don't really care, because it's true.

'Let's hope you can calm down a bit, Jess.

'Oh, and I only shout when I really have to.'

Right! Quiet, please.

-HE SPEAKS LIKE YODA:

-Learning science, we are.

LAUGHTER

I'd like you to open your planners and I'd like you to

write your homework in, and you need to get it checked by Miss

-or me.

-Is this homework?

-Yes, it is.

When Jamie started at Our School, he went in to what

we call the Progress Group

for Year 7's who need more support with their lessons.

Lots of the Progress Group are only here until they're ready

to move back into the main school, but Jamie sees it differently.

The Progress Group is where I think, um, thick people go,

and not that very smart.

I felt that I was not that smart, and that I was quite thick,

that's why I was in it.

Right, nice easy one then.

Because Jamie finds some subjects hard, like English and Maths,

he can get frustrated and misbehave.

I think the hardest thing is the maths.

When I'm doing my work,

I can get a bit funny and start messing about.

You've got something on your chest.

'Some people laugh and some people don't.'

-Oh, I'm sorry, who's in charge here?

-Me.

-Me.

-You.

-Right.

Jamie's determined to move out of the Progress Group and in

to the main school, but to do that, he'll have to improve his behaviour.

'I think with Jamie, in terms of moving out of the Progress Group,'

I think his attitude would need to change,

because if he moves into mainstream classes with this

attitude, he'll get into a massive amount of trouble and he'll start

to fall behind again and we don't want that.

One thing that all new Year 7's have to deal with,

whether they like it or not, is homework.

In Geography, Mrs O'Boyle had asked 7AG to complete a task at home.

It's great to see people's homework looking really good there.

I'll be really looking forward to looking at that homework,

seeing what your thoughts and ideas...

Jessica has coming into class empty-handed.

It's usually an interesting experience marking

the first lot of homework. OK? I'm looking forward to that. What's up?

I haven't done it.

I'll speak to you at the end of the lesson.

'I was so annoyed.'

'It's hard to do homework, and you don't know when it has to be in'

because you can't be bothered looking in your planner.

'I should have got let off the hook because that was the first time

'I've forgotten my homework, but I don't think she was very impressed.'

I think you might be right, Jess, and Mrs O'Boyle hasn't finished yet.

Jess, I expect to see you tomorrow at lunch time, right?

Come and see me at 12.20. If you've got your book with you,

and your homework is done, right,

then it will be a fairly short detention.

-If not, you'll be with me for lunch time.

-All right.

Make sure it's done on time, please.

So, Jess already has a detention.

Meanwhile, in maths...

HE SINGS

..Jamie's finding it hard to concentrate.

Do I use a weak or a strong?

Can I just remind you, you've got homework which is due to be handed

in to me tomorrow?

-Is that the one about the famous magician?

-Mathematician.

-Yeah.

Not magicians.

When Mr Waterson's not looking, things kick off.

All right, OK.

When he turns round, we stop.

-Do you know what?

-Don't actually touch him.

If you have done anything behind my back...

-It wasn't that bad, actually.

-What was it?

He just punched me in the face. Yeah, you went, "Boom!"

-No, you went like that and I went...

-Lads...

When he steps out of the room...

Stop hitting me with a pencil!

Duh, duh, duh!

..Jamie sees another chance to mess about.

Jamie is, erm, well, he's funny, in all sorts of ways.

He's, erm, a bit cheeky, a bit, you know, like silly.

I've knuckled down in a couple of classes but some of them

I just can't do, so I just give up.

My dad's PC Plump.

Mr Waterson has had enough.

Right. Right, lads, in all seriousness,

I need you to separate, you're being silly on that back table.

Right, can you split up, please?

There's loads of tables round this room.

I'm waiting for people to do some work, you're being a bit silly.

Can we have one more chance?

Unfortunately, even being moved doesn't stop Jamie.

-Oliver!

-Er!

-I was giving his rubber back!

Right, stop it.

That was a pass. Catch it next time.

-There will be next time.

-I'm sure.

In detention at lunch time, there was like a whole load of us.

I got told off for making comments.

Milina was told off for her attitude.

And Kyran was told off for provoking us.

I haven't got one yet, so, touch wood.

With homework, like, yeah, they give you detentions.

"Bring it to me the next day before nine o'clock

"and you're off the hook, but if you don't, you're in detention."

Some teachers are just, "Right, that's it,

"I don't... You haven't brought it in so you've got a detention."

You get a detention and you will die.

Well, yeah, but then I will annoy my mum a lot.

My parents are quite strict about getting detention

and all that stuff.

-Some people just Tipp-Ex it out of their planner.

-Yeah.

And you're just, like, "It's going to go on your report!"

-What you going to do, Tipp-Ex that out, as well?

-Yeah.

No, I did have to stay in one break time, though, cos I didn't...

Apparently, I didn't do the appropriate amount of work

for English class in half an hour, but my mind was blank!

After not handing her Geography homework in

and having some serious attitude, Jessica's come to meet Mrs O'Boyle

for her breaktime detention.

-I've got my homework. Finished it all.

-OK, let's have a look.

Right, when I asked for your homework, what was your response?

-Can you remember?

-Yes, but I didn't have enough time.

Right. Why do you think that's not a good enough excuse?

-I don't know, really.

-When you said to me, "I was busy,"

what kind of message do you think I got from that?

Probably "I don't believe her, really, she's just making an excuse

"so she can't do her homework."

-If you were me, is that what you'd be thinking?

-Yes.

-"I was too busy."

It comes across like to me that, "I had other priorities and this

-"isn't important." Do you see what I'm saying?

-Yeah.

-Yeah? OK.

It should be important, so when you're speaking to a teacher,

make sure you get your homework done on time, first of all.

But think about the message you're giving about yourself, all right?

Yeah? Can I have a promise that next time it'll be done on time?

-Yeah, promise.

-Absolutely fantastic. Thank you, well done.

Put your chair under and off you go.

That's a lesson learned for Jess...

..maybe.

"He looked shabby and his manners were coarse,

"he seemed to be used to being obeyed."

Meanwhile, Jamie's quickly getting a reputation as,

well, a bit of a pain.

Yeah, Mamma.

He's desperate to leave the Progress Group

and move into the main school,

but his behaviour is getting worse by the day.

When I walk, I'm going to...

He's very good at being able to shy away from what he needs to do.

He has all the tricks, um, which I used to use,

which is why I know about them.

-Looks like a little ball now.

-Put it down.

OK, here we go.

In every class I've done, in every lesson so far, I've got told

off more than once, and I'm trying to not get told off in at least one

lesson, but it's not working.

Reports of Jamie's shenanigans have reached

the Head of the Progress Group, Mrs Pack, and she's not happy.

Unfortunately, some students, in particular,

I feel, are maybe letting this group down a little bit.

And I don't know whether that's because they don't feel that they

should be in here, are better than everybody else,

or really just generally are quite rude.

I think she might be talking about you, Jamie.

OK, right, now let's get on with some learning, because this is what

it's all about, right?

-Thank you, Sir.

-Thank you.

But will Miss Pack's words of warning

make any difference to Jamie?

It's lunch time. Jessica and classmate Libby

have been called names by an older boy,

and they've decided to report him to Year 7 Manager, Mr Livercy.

Do you two want to grab a seat?

I'm going to go and bring another chair in.

-Do you want to grab that one?

-Oh, I've shut the door.

That's all right.

But because the boy said sorry,

Libby's not sure they should take things further.

Jess, you need to say that it doesn't matter anymore,

because you can't make this go, because he's already apologised.

Even though he said sorry, he still said it in the first place.

He needs to... Even though he's apologised to me,

he still said it to me and upset me,

so he needs to be sorted out, really.

Right, sorry, girls. OK, so who had the problem? Just you?

-Well, no.

-Or both of you?

-It was both of us.

It was both of us, but he aimed the bad language to Jess,

if you get me, and he said, "Oh, leave me alone, you lesbian."

-Right.

-And so then I said, "Oh, well, why did you say that?"

And then Jess said...

And, if I got some photographs, would you recognise him?

-Maybe, yeah.

-Yeah, I think so.

-Right, OK, just bear with me.

-All right.

The girls are upset because the word "lesbian" was used.

A lesbian is a girl or woman who is gay.

You can have a quick squizz through.

Libby did say that I should forget about it,

but that's not the point. He took the mick, saying that I'm ugly

and all that, so I would say, even though he's apologised,

he's only apologising so he can get out of trouble.

Who cares if I was a lesbian?

It wouldn't interfere with my life, I wouldn't be upset about it.

He seemed, like, genuinely sorry. I think it's because...

You know, like, he's an older boy,

and I think he didn't think before he said what he said.

No problem. It's still not right, that's fine.

All right? OK.

Mr Livercy found him and sorted stuff out,

so it's all better now.

As Year 7 are about to find out,

using "lesbian" or "gay" as an insult

is a serious kind of bullying.

The school have invited Sean Delenty,

a Deputy Head from another school to talk to Year 7

about what happened to him when he was their age.

That's me. I'll tell you something about myself there.

I already know that I'm different,

and as I get older, I understand that that feeling is that I'm gay.

And I kind of always knew that.

When I got to secondary school, I started to be bullied,

right from the first day.

And during my time at secondary school,

I was spat on, laughed at, punched, kicked, hit,

pushed and I was told that I would go to hell.

All of that by the time I'm your age.

How do you think that might affect somebody?

A young person. How do you think that might affect them?

It's so upsetting.

-Especially getting punched, kicked.

-Spat on.

-There's no need for it.

There's nothing really wrong with being gay.

If I'm being honest, it's just your life, you live it and...

It's just like judging someone for who they are, cos, like,

I mean, I've had... I've been... People have been racist to me

a few times, as well, and, like, I know how it feels.

I could come to you every day and just call you gay, "You're gay."

Every day and that would be homophobic.

Say if... Say if someone, like, does something.

-If he's gay, that's him.

-That's how you have to respect it.

Exactly, that's his choice.

If I saw one of my friends getting bullied then I would

join in and just tell them to go away

and help my friend and stuff.

'I didn't think that homophobic bullying'

could have such a big effect on people,

and even on people who aren't gay.

It's like...

It's like some kids making fun of you, which is not right,

they shouldn't be making fun of you.

The assembly has really got the Year 7's thinking

and the discussion carries on in tutor time.

Just think, has anyone ever discriminated against you?

So, has anybody ever said anything against you?

So just have a think.

I've been called a racist name.

Somebody's called you a racist name? Right.

-And it made me feel bad.

-It made you feel bad, OK. Harry?

They keep coming up to me and saying, "Why do you talk like that?"

Right. Hands up if you've had somebody call you a bad name?

Right, so... So everybody in this room has had somebody call them

a derogatory term, OK?

I want us to sign a petition, to promise that we will never

use that term, "gay", in a derogatory sense.

'If you get name called, that's a sign of bullying.'

I would just go and see your Deputy or your Head Teacher, tell them

what's happening, stuff like that and then maybe you could sort

it out and be friends or something.

After Mrs Pack's telling off,

Jamie seems to be making more of an effort.

He's even improving in maths.

That's why I was so incredibly impressed with that.

Yours was interesting, actually, because your first one was 25%

-and that second one, it's jumped massively to 45%.

-How come?

I went to 22% to 45, that's mint!

We seem to have seen a lot of progress with Jamie.

Yeah, he's still cheeky...

# It's raining men, hallelujah! #

..but we are, are channelling that in a really positive way.

I hate all chocolate, but I like potatoes.

If I've made a good impression with any of the teachers...

As many as you can find. That's it, Jamie.

..I think that's good because I've done, like,

good work for one teacher and then I just have to do

a bit more for the other teachers.

Jamie didn't want to be in the Progress Group

when he came to our school...

-Miss, I'm finished.

-Wow! Speedy!

..but now he's joining in with the class,

and he's started helping other students, too.

Good, well done.

Thanks, Jamie, there, for helping out.

I'm really, really, pleased with what we've seen from Jamie.

Jamie's going to tell me something else about the story so far.

Erm...

They only took the scroll, but they didn't take the coins

-from the sea chest.

-Well done.

Hi, guys. Hiya.

Oh, no, not history again!

Oh, let's not come in with a negative attitude, please,

or you can go back out.

Whilst Jamie's doing better in his lessons,

Jessica's still getting herself into trouble.

It seems she just can't keep a lid on it.

-Jess, stand up.

-Oh, I'm sorry!

Shhhh! We're wasting time!

Who wants to lose breaktime tomorrow? Jess, do you want to?

No!

It's actually really, really hard,

because you've got other people who shout out.

That's not fair!

But when I shout out, cos I shout out louder,

then that's when the trouble starts with the teachers.

Sir, that wasn't... It was...

Jess, I'm thinking from now on, I'm not going to let you

-sit in that group.

-No, come on!

-You're getting too excited.

-No, it's Nathan.

And you're not listening when I ask you to.

It's Nathan, he said something incredibly rude!

You can keep standing up for the rest of the lesson.

Awww! That isn't fair.

Fed up with Jess' behaviour,

Mr Glendenning has called her in at breaktime.

Right, take a seat.

I'm not in trouble, am I? I've done nothing wrong, sir.

Right, why do you think you're here?

-I don't have a clue.

-Have a think.

Have a good think about why you might be here.

Still don't have a clue, don't know, at all.

Right, OK, so what have I spoken to you about in the past?

-Laughing and messing around in the classroom.

-Um-hm.

We've already had this chat last week, and you promised that you

were going to start to settle down in lessons, not keep shouting.

I mean, I'm having to ask you to stand up in every single lesson,

aren't I? Because you keep talking, yeah?

-Now, do you think that is acceptable?

-No, sir.

-No?

-I'm just really happy and I don't know why.

-No...

I mean, the whole time, like, wild in the playground.

I'm really happy that you're really happy,

I'm really glad that you're settling in.

You're a great personality in the class,

you're always coming up with great ideas, but you need to

kind of channel your enthusiasm and focus that enthusiasm to the lesson.

Now I know you're capable, I know you can do it.

So, what are we going to do?

-Erm, start afresh.

-Right.

-Settle down.

So we'll start afresh, we'll wipe the slate clean,

-so, hi, my name's Mr Glendenning.

-Hi, I'm Jessica.

-Hi, Jess.

So, keep your enthusiasm,

-just focus it on what you're going to be doing, OK?

-Yeah.

-Promise?

-Promise.

-Promise, promise?

This time I will promise, promise.

This time you'll promise, promise, that's what I like to hear.

I pinky promised him that I wouldn't talk in lessons

and I would concentrate hard.

-Right? Right. Enjoy the rest of your break.

-Thank you.

'It's like so hard for me to shut my mouth.'

And I just don't know how to do it, how I'll be silent,

how to be quiet, I just don't know.

-I want you to show your enthusiasm, just focus it, OK?

-Right.

Today is Jamie's birthday.

-A Where's Wally card, from Chris and Michael.

-Nice.

Along with all the cards and the presents,

there's a letter from school.

"Jamie has progressed well in the Progress Group.

"He's showing a confident, positive attitude and an ability to succeed.

"We would like to start the process of integrating

-"Jamie into all of his mainstream lessons."

-Well done.

Great news.

'I think I'm being moved out of the group because I've done,'

like, knuckled down a lot more than I did before,

because I used to mess about and talk.

Yes!

So, Jamie got his wish.

He's out of the Progress Group, and in to the main school.

Year 7!

Right, and remember the only person who can talk with their hand up

is me, cos I'm the teacher, OK?

He's come a long way from the days when he thought

he just wasn't clever enough.

'I think I've proved that I'm smarter than I was.'

Cos I thought I was thick and not good.

Jamie! Go on, tell us.

I think it's the owl, now, because it has feathers.

Well done, you're picking out some clues, so it could be a bird.

I feel like I'm a lot more grown-up than I was before.

He still has his moments, though.

Fin, watch this. Fin, Fin, Fin.

And it looks like Jess is finally taking Mr Glendenning's advice.

She's trying harder in class...

You'll never guess what, sir.

-What's that?

-Ta-da!

Wow!

..and getting her homework in on time.

Fantastic!

I'm, like, loud, I'm very, very loud in this school,

but you need to, like,

focus on your work and stop laughing around in class.

I think, like, I like the school and it's giving me

a good future, really.

Next time on Our School,

competition is fierce for a spot on the school football team.

Battling it out for a place are Nathan...

I always like to win.

On a scale of one to ten, how much I like football,

definite ten.

..and Alex.

If it's against people that are better than me,

I'll still be competitive and I'll want to win everything that I do.

-Do you want to be my special friend?

-No, thanks.

-OK.

I'm not sure if you're actually allowed to spray in the classroom.

Please. Do it for the camera.

Jess! Give me my mascara.

No-one takes that and gets away with it.

Hello, my friends. Today, I am on TV. Yay!