The Beautiful Game Our School

SCHOOL BELL RINGS

-NARRATOR:

-Each September, half a million children begin the most

important year of school so far.

Year Seven.

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...

CHILDREN SING LOUDLY

..will stay with them forever.

Hello there. I'm Mr Thorburn 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?

Conyers School in Stockton-on-Tees where 221 new Year Sevens

will be spending the next five years of their lives.

This time we're meeting Nathan and Alex,

two lads starting Year Seven with big hopes for sporting

glory at Our School.

CROWD CHEERS

Right, guys, listen in.

I want you to think what you really, really want to be in the future.

It's tutor time and the Year Sevens

are talking about their dreams and ambitions.

So it's a little bit like a game of charades without a single word.

Sh-sh-sh.

Sing it.

-BOY:

-I want to be in game design. I'm going to make some games

and then I'm going to be on the IT end of it.

I want to be an actress or a head teacher or a secondary school teacher

or a singer.

Football player.

-ALEX:

-Probably be...

..in the army or something where you're saving...

..you're risking your life for other people.

Nathan, sit nice and quiet. Come on, then.

-Like most boys in this school...

-No shouting out.

..I want to be a footballer more than anything in the world.

I just want to play football for the rest of my life.

Iman.

When I grow up, I would like to be an architect or an engineer...

..engineer.

-A scientist?

-A pirate.

-A pirate?

THEY LAUGH

I want to do lots of things.

I want to be a model, I want to be a children's writer,

I want to be an artist, I want to be...

I want to be a singer, I want to be a dancer, I want to be an actor.

Yeah, it's all out there.

-NARRATOR:

-Wow. That is quite a list, Delight.

Someone else in Year Seven

with confidence by the bucketload is Alex.

HE SINGS

-Do you want to be my special friend?

-No, thanks.

-OK.

# Oompa loompa doopity doo... #

Coke, Cherryade, Irn-Bru...

Wee. Sorry, urine. I'm scientific now, aren't I? Slime.

I think I just get overexcited sometimes.

You can do the wee-wee one.

It just comes out when it's not meant to.

I'm really good at getting distracted.

Do you want to taste it?

Three things that I couldn't live without.

My mum, my dad and football.

Tomato sauce, please.

Although Alex's parents aren't together,

he's still really close to his dad.

I think I'm, like, 100% like my dad.

We like the same things.

It's good to have a dad who you can relate to.

-That was a tough match this morning, wasn't it?

-I know. Yeah.

I am sport-crazy.

Football has been my main sport for years and years, but if the weather

is bad or there's no-one there, I'll come inside to play on FIFA.

Oh! He takes it.

I am 100% competitive at everything I do.

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

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

But it looks like Alex has a serious Year Seven rival.

I would think my friends would describe me as a bit competitive.

-I always like to win.

-For Nathan, football is more than just a hobby.

It's a way of life.

I'm going to be a footballer because ever since I was really young,

I always wanted to be one because I love playing football.

Supporting Nathan all the way is his mum.

When do we put the sauce in?

He just loves football. He absolutely loves it.

The majority of the time, he's out the front,

he's off at the field with friends,

training for the football team he plays for.

She's always been there for me

so like a best friend but a million times better.

And the most important person in the world to me.

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

probably a definite ten.

I wouldn't really be able to do anything without it.

-Man U lost 4-1. 4-1.

-Oh, yeah.

As you may have guessed, there is one thing that's sure to get the

Year Seven boys talking.

But the thing is, Bournemouth scored two penalties

-and one of them was an own goal, so...

-I know.

Yep. Football.

Sport at secondary school can be a good way to break the ice

and make new friends.

-You in Year Seven?

-Yeah.

-Nice. Do you like football?

Do you like rugby?

You doing rugby trials today?

OK. See ya.

OK. Maybe not all the time. Nice try, though, Nathan.

Mr Thorburn points for that. What do you reckon an alkali might be?

Lots of the boys already play for teams outside school

and they can get a bit distracted in class. Trust me, I know.

Sorry, who was busy having a chat over here?

-What were you chatting about?

-It was just about football tonight.

Uh-huh.

-How do you think I feel about that?

-Disappointed.

-Little bit.

I'd like to think you were paying attention

rather than discussing football.

-HE WHISPERS

-Don't discuss football again.

Unless you're saying how good Newcastle are.

Now, alkalies, ladies and gentlemen, are the chemical

opposite of acids, but that does not mean they are harmless.

Will I be on time for my football match?

It's the last lesson and I have a football match after.

It's all I think about.

HE BLOWS WHISTLE

Nathan has played for a local club since he was small

and he's a bit of a star player.

And his biggest fan? Mum, of course, who tries never to miss a match.

Like Alex, Nathan's parents aren't together

but his dad often comes to watch him play, which is handy

because he used to be a professional footballer.

He's offside. He's offside. Leave him in. He's offside.

My dad was a footballer and I think he's quite competitive,

but, like, it's not just that because my mum,

when she was younger, like my age, she was quite competitive

and she was good at running and she was tall and had long legs like me.

Ah, that's where he gets it from,

and why Nathan's won so many trophies.

This trophy is one of my favourites because this is my first ever trophy.

But now he's moved up to secondary school,

Nathan has got his eye on another prize.

I would like to get in the school football team.

The worst scenario would be not to get in the football team.

But with only 16 places available on the team,

there will be a lot of competition, not least from footy rival Alex.

I'm really confident in making it to the football team cos I know

that by ability of playing football is good.

I won this for team of the year.

I do think that I have got that ability to get into the team.

It's all to play for and we'll see if Alex is right.

We're going to have a little bit of a think about who our heroes are.

In tutor time, 7CG are talking about heroes.

Some people have picked sports stars or singers

but Alex has chosen someone closer to home.

Well, my hero...

-It's my dad.

-Why?

-Because...

It's because my dad battled with cancer for three...

Two years. So, like... It's...

-It's made me really proud of him because of what he's done.

-Yeah?

Oh, fantastic. Thank you very much, Alex.

-And how is he now, Alex?

-He's fine.

-He's good? Fantastic. OK.

So he beat cancer. That's very inspirational.

OK, thank you very much for sharing that with us.

Alex is really close to his dad

and they've been through some tough times.

-I see your favourite team won again yesterday, Alex.

-Yep.

Can't believe you support Chelsea. Unbelievable.

-Could support Middlesbrough, your local team.

-No.

-Even though we're rubbish at the moment.

-Exactly.

HE LAUGHS

Initially, I chose not to tell Alex that I had cancer.

I kind of reassured him that, you know, I would be OK,

but there would be a period where

I'm going to have a bit of a rough time

and, you know, he visited me on many occasions in hospital.

He was fine with it. I don't feel it really affected him initially.

I think it's only hit him now because, you know,

he just understands a bit more about cancer now. That's all.

-Do you want a game of FIFA?

-No.

-OK.

I want to play something where I've got a chance against you, son.

Back at school,

talking about his Dad has brought back some sad memories for Alex.

Luckily, teaching assistant Miss Maclean is there to listen.

You get yourself sat down there.

-Here?

-Yeah. You sit yourself down.

-Right. Don't worry about it.

-HE SNIFFLES

Sometimes after you write your feelings down

you feel them a bit, don't you?

I knew that, like, he was ill, but I didn't know why he was ill and then

when he recovered, they told me...

-What was wrong.

-..what had happened.

Because they probably thought, oh, it will stop him becoming upset

if we don't tell him, but then maybe

they could have told you, but then they wouldn't have known

how you would have reacted.

You know he's all right now, don't you?

It's just like it only really comes around if I talk about it that

I get really upset because it'll always be in the back of my mind.

Yeah.

-Feel a little bit better now you've had a cry?

-A little bit.

Take your time. You don't have to go straight back into lesson.

If you still feeling upset or anything,

I'll get you somewhere to sit for a little bit.

Or you can come back into the lesson with me. It's totally your call.

Talking about what happened to my dad today was

emotional for me and I got...

I got upset.

I just tried to keep it in when I was talking about it.

All the memories come back to you. They're really emotional.

-Pardon?

-Are you going to join us now?

-Yeah.

It's good that Alex felt he was able to talk about his feelings.

WHISTLE BLOWS

There are loads of different sports

you can do at secondary school, from Rugby...

Over the line, Sam!

..to cross-country running...

..to gymnastics...

Where's the boys?

..to, er, Zumba - whatever that is.

But with the Year Seven football trials looming,

Mr Glendenning has some words of encouragement for the boys.

Right...

Who is going for the football trials today?

Who's good?

-Who's going to be a professional footballer?

-Oh, yeah.

That's what I like. Confidence.

I've got quite a few good football players in my tutor group.

I know a lot of people in my tutor group are massive fans to the point

where I think they'd rather be playing football than

maybe in some of my lessons.

You and me both, Mr Glendenning.

I hope I can play for Liverpool because I've always supported them,

so I just need to keep practising.

I think footballers, to be honest, are paid a lot more than teachers.

And we do a lot more work than them.

I like it. I was doing it for a while.

Like, Nathan taught me how to do it.

I don't really know what they see in it.

It's just a bunch of sweaty people running about

kicking a ball around the field.

I don't know what's so nice about it.

It's mostly boys who watch it, but you don't really see

girls sitting in front of the TV watching ballet, "Come on, son!"

"Yes, Middlesbrough have scored a goal! Whoo! We've won."

And I'm just like, "What? What are you talking about?"

I'm not a girlie girl but I do like to play football and stuff...

-I do karate.

-I don't play it in school.

I play outside of school with my brother.

I think boys are mad about football because they like going...

..because they like winning. They just like winning.

The Year Seven football trials are finally here and it's a chance

for Alex and Nathan to compete for a coveted place in the school team.

We enter competitive leagues,

so we're looking obviously through this process to try and select

some of our more talented footballers to come and represent school

and that should be a big honour.

The Year Seven team have won plenty of trophies over the years

and there are loads of boys battling for a place.

I do feel under pressure by all the boys that have tried to

get into the football team.

It must be at least over 50

and you're only allowed to pick 16.

If I don't get into the football team,

obviously I'll be really upset,

but obviously I've just got to, like, keep calm

and don't let things get the better of me

and I just to try and keep my cool.

That's the spirit.

First the coaches are testing the lads on their ball control.

And straightaway, Nathan is showing off some fancy footwork.

Move behind the line.

Back of the net!

Alex's shot isn't quite so spectacular, but at least he scores.

I thought, like, I didn't do my best when I was trying. I don't know why.

I just didn't do well.

I think as a footballer, Nathan is one of the best in the school.

One of the best Year Sevens in Stockton.

He is really good at football.

The thing about Alex, he doesn't really like a tackle.

So if someone went in for a tackle with him,

he would run away and then go back for the ball.

It looks like there are loads of good players in Year Seven.

They don't have to wait long to find out if they've made the grade

as Mr Braithwaite soon posts the team list on the noticeboard.

Both Nathan and Alex tried really hard to impress the coaches.

The question is, have they done enough to get in the squad?

Yes!

Nathan has made it.

Oh, yes! Get in! Oh...

I was probably more nervous of not getting in the football team

than starting school.

I'm going to have to ring my mum. She'll be proud of me.

So Nathan is in, but what about Alex?

I didn't get in

but I'll just have to try and do better next year.

I will try again to get into the team.

Good attitude, Alex.

It's tough when you just this out on something

which means so much to you.

Why do we ask questions about belief? Why is faith important?

Well, I've already said...

In RE, Mr Winter is talking to 7CG about faith,

and Alex is keen to join in.

So Alex, you told us last week, didn't you, about your faith.

-So tell us what is your faith?

-Well, I'm a Christian.

-I got my holy communion in Year Five.

-Yeah.

I want to learn more into my religion but also, like...

Keran is a Sikh and Assan is a Muslim. I'd like to think, like...

..to go and seeing what they do in their different, like...

-Right, OK.

-What they do for their religion.

You want to learn about them so you can respect their point of view?

-Yeah.

-And that's important, isn't it?

-Yeah, it is, yeah.

With his dad's illness, things haven't been easy for Alex

in the past couple of years, but his faith has proved really important.

God helps me because of all the family stuff.

I sometimes ask him, like...

..why things have gone wrong.

I think I'm quite unique among my friends because they...

I'm the only one out of my friends in my class who is a Christian.

And football-mad Alex even has a special way of praying.

I just hope that it wouldn't look a bit silly

for doing that after the thing

cos that's what you do in a football match.

Because I'm sporty and it just, like, funks it up a bit.

And who is calling you names?

Uh, Nathan...

In Student Support,

a couple of Nathan's classmates are making a complaint about him.

He keeps saying to you you're moody.

I just wouldn't let him use my ruler in science.

Like, he doesn't even ask. He just...

If it's on the desk, he just takes it, uses it and then gives it back.

Year Seven manager Mr Livesee has heard about Nathan's behaviour

and wants a word.

Right. Just a couple of things I want to chat about.

Obviously, I've had a few girls come to Student Support

saying that you've been a bit of a pain.

Sort of...

Yeah. I'm a bit... I'm a bit of a chatterbox.

I can annoy people.

You can annoy people. Do you think you've wound a few girls up?

-Maybe.

-Maybe, yes. So we've got to make sure we stop that

and we just concentrate on what we're doing, OK?

-If you're in the football team, you have to be a role model.

-Yeah.

And show good standards to other students. And other students don't

want to see you messing around and being a bit mischievous.

But there is some good news for Nathan too.

Been talking to Mr Braithwaite.

I don't think he's spoken to you, has he?

Obviously, from his squad,

he is going to make you his captain of the football team, right?

-Whoa.

-Wow. Exactly. So how does that make you feel?

-I feel amazing.

-Yeah.

I need to make sure that you are spot-on in all your lessons.

Show the rest of the football squad what a good leader you can be.

-You capable of doing that?

-Yeah.

-Excellent. Who do you support?

-Man United.

-Man what...? You support Man United? Unbelievable.

Unbelievable.

Being made team captain is a great result for Nathan.

Can he buckle down and lead by example?

It's not long before their first away match.

And that the captain today is Nathan.

ALL: Yay!

-Do you think we'll win the match?

-Yeah, easy.

-THEY SING

-# My Conyers, my only Conyers

# You make me happy

# When skies are grey

# You'll never know, dear, how much I love you

# Don't let them take my Conyers away. #

And Nathan soon shows why he was picked to lead the team.

I've been really, really impressed with Nathan.

You know, it's a tricky role to fill

when you're looking for a Year Seven school football captain.

He seems to command a lot of respect off the other boys

and he's one of the more naturally gifted players in that team,

so in terms of leading from example, he's got that element to his game.

Get in!

If you're captain like I am,

you have to set a good example on and off the pitch.

So you need to be quite confident.

Like Steven Gerrard.

At the final whistle, it's 3-1 to Conyers

and it looks like Nathan has really made his mark.

Well played, lads. Well done.

Absolutely fantastic performance.

They haven't lost yet so far.

We're the first team to beat them this year,

so we've done really well.

THEY SING RAUCOUSLY

-MAN:

-OK, focus, please.

Three, two...

EPIC CHORAL MUSIC PLAYS

Back at school, Alex might not have made the football team

but he is using his acting skills...

..because he's been hand-picked by our drama teacher Mr Smith to take

part in a school Shakespeare play.

Well done, Alex.

-BOY:

-..Imitate the action of a tiger!

I'm quite confident with whatever I do,

so acting was just one of the things that I'd be able to have a dig at.

It feels like second nature in a way.

Dishonour not your mothers.

The game's afoot and upon the charge cry,

"God for Harry, England and Saint George!'

God for Harry, England and Saint George!

Well, my view of Shakespeare at first

was that it was going to be difficult.

-MR SMITH:

-Therefore, haste on Montjoy,

and let you say to England that he send to know what willing ransom

he will give. Forth! Forth!

But you just have to go with it, saying things like 'thy'

and, like, 'messiah' and things like that which you need to watch Merlin

to realise what they mean.

Stand up proud and then bow, and do a second bow...

..and then...and off.

-Do you like drama?

-Yeah.

-Drama and PE? I did drama and PE and history.

-Yeah, drama and PE and music.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Music, I like music.

Would you ever take acting up as a career?

If it had a good salary, I would, yeah.

-Is it all about the money for you?

-Yeah.

-NARRATOR:

-Meanwhile, Nathan's Year Seven football team go from strength

to strength, with a winning streak that's the envy of the area.

And he's really settled into his role as team captain.

-CONNOR:

-The Conyers footy team is really good because we've all

gelled together really quickly, and like, Nathan's still captain.

We haven't lost yet. We've scored about fifty-odd goals!

They're a very, very good side, so they're doing well in the

National Cup, so there's probably going to be a few scouts attending

matches to have a look at them, because they win every game.

Nathan's future is looking bright, but for now,

he's taking his dreams of football stardom one step at a time.

Like, you see some footballers where they're greedy and they're just all

about money, and I'm not like that.

I just want, like, a normal life.

I always say to my mum I'd like to stay living in the house I live in.

I'd buy my mum a Ferrari or something.

And, um, I don't know.

I want a dog. I would love a dog.

Next time on Our School,

we meet May and Reece who are finding school really scary.

It's a brand-new big school, which just made me really scared

and I cried.

And Corey, the class clown.

Showtime!

Get off my...my monkey's feet!

-Sh!

-Don't shush at me.

-MAN:

-Yeah! Ten points!

Keep hold the football. Keep hold of it.

Who's your favourite Sunderland or Newcastle player?

-Boo!

-They suck!

-Who said that?

-Oi! excuse me.

Anyone who turns up with a Liverpool pencil case...

I'm sorry. They're not going to be very successful in my lessons.