I Hate Quiet 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 for ever.

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 BELCHES

How can you do that?

SCHOOL BELL RINGS

This time we're following...

..as they try to make their mark at Our School.

One of the biggest worries when you move up to Year 7

is how to make a good impression.

But two students who don't seem too worried

are old primary schoolmates Kyran and Alex.

They're a bit of handful!

BOTH GIGGLE

-Kyran is very loud and energetic.

-Mm-hm.

Yeah, ha.

Leprechaun.

He likes putting his hair to the side and singing.

Ha, that doesn't suit you!

-Do I like singing?

-Yes, you do!

-OK, I do.

But their behaviour is already getting them into trouble.

Stop making silly noises.

-It's like in gymnastics, you go...

-HE IMITATES KARATE CHOP NOISES

When I get told off,

it is either for whispering,

or chatting when the teacher is talking

or sometimes, I daydream about motor bikes.

And that's because Kyran has a very exciting hobby...

Speedway.

Speedway is a very good motor sport

and you can meet new friends there.

What I like about it is it's really fast and high-energy.

At first, it was my dad that got into them.

He started racing and that's just got me into it,

and I want to do it now.

Kyran might have a need for speed outside of school,

but Alex prefers a quieter life.

I describe myself as a sporty person.

I like golf.

I am the only one plays golf out of my friends.

My dad used to play it, and I used go round with this one ball

and smack it around the course.

Then I got this really small set of clubs and started playing.

If you win a medal, you qualify for a medal final.

I won the monthly medal.

It's, like, detachable.

'With Kyran's Speedway and Alex's love of golf,

'sitting still in class can be a challenge.

'Hmm, I hope they settle down in my science lesson.'

You can get set up to collect... Wait, wait, wait!

Don't talk, and put that ruler down! Thank you!

I would recommend that you try, where possible,

to use the outside benches

cos then you're not going to be crossing the classroom with flames.

'Time to light the Bunsen burners,

'but can Kyran and Alex be trusted not to play with fire?'

BOTH GIGGLE

Blow it out!

It's out! Alex, it's fire!

Whoo, whoo!

'Mucking about with flames is definitely NOT acceptable.'

When you were lighting the splint wood thing, it was like massive.

The flame was massive for me for some reason.

Take it out, Alex!

Alex, take it out!

BOTH GIGGLE

Alex, hold it with the tip like that, and point it like that.

'These two could easily hurt themselves.'

-Ouch!

-Ooh, are you all right?

'And that is what happens when you are not careful, Alex.

'Luckily, I spot them before they can do any more damage.'

Why did you just light that and then put that out?

Go and sit down, take your goggles off. You're no longer taking part.

He's not strict, but I think he is because...

-Safety.

-Yeah, he doesn't want anyone to get hurt.

It's all like safety and stuff. Because fire is dangerous.

'Spot on, Alex.'

For the new Year 7s, starting secondary school

means trying lots of new things.

ALL ROAR

# C'est moi? C'est moi? #

Like rapping...

in French?

# Quel age as-tu? Quel age as-tu?

# Jai onze ans Jai onze ans

# Jai onze ans! #

# Je m'appelle, Je m'appelle Delight

# Jai onze ans, Jai onze ans

# Salut! Salut!

# Je habite... #

SHE GIGGLES

# Je habite en Thornaby! #

-Ah! Tres bien!

-APPLAUSE

It's five years since Delight, along with her mum,

brother and sister came to the UK from Zimbabwe in Africa.

She's really determined to well at school and make her mum proud.

Zimbabwe is where I was born,

and no-one can ever really forget where they're from,

and it's what made me me.

I think without being from Zimbabwe,

I wouldn't appreciate everything that I have.

I like this one the most, this one.

Yeah, this is when I graduated from nursery, wasn't it?

Yeah, I like it.

SHE CHUCKLES

Delight's dad was in the UK preparing for his family's arrival

when he died very suddenly.

When I was five or six, he came back to my country for a month.

He lived with us for that long

and then, he came back down here, and then he died.

SHE SOBS

Her mum's strength has inspired Delight to try her best to succeed.

My mum is so great because she has always been there for me,

and she brought me to this country when we didn't know anything,

and has stood by us and made sure we have had a roof over our head

and that we had food, and she is just really nice.

-You can't put this one.

-Oh, really?

In tutor time, 7AG are talking about their heroes.

-Thanks very much, Sam. Well done.

-APPLAUSE

Next, I'll have Delight.

And Delight doesn't have to think too hard to think about hers.

My hero is my mum.

ALL: Aww...

So, what's special about your hero?

Because my dad died, I only had my mum left,

and she was always taking care of me,

and we have been through a lot together,

and she is really good, and she is really amazing.

So, from looking at your mam's special qualities,

what are you going to take from that and emulate her?

What are you going to do?

I'm going to try as hard as I can.

Because my mum worked so hard to get me here,

the best way I can repay her is by doing my very best.

-Fantastic. Well done.

-APPLAUSE

Thank you very much, Delight.

It's break time and the hot topic is what happened in science

with Kyran another boy, also called Alex.

Did you get told off in science yesterday?

-No.

-Yeah, you did.

-When?

When we were in science, and Alex dropped his pen

and I was kicking it to him,

I went to push my chair in more

and my foot slipped off and kicked him because he was like...

Oooh, ow, God's sake!

I accidentally kicked him in the forehead.

But nobody seems to be buying Kyran's story.

So, your foot just slipped up towards Alex's forehead?

No, literally his head was like that,

right over to where I was sat.

I know you didn't mean to kick him in the forehead,

-but did you mean to kick him?

-No.

When I told them, they were like, "Oh, you kicked him on purpose."

It annoyed me quite a lot

because they weren't on that table and they didn't know what happened,

and they assumed I did it on purpose.

Yeah, he just slipped his foot leg into Alex's head.

Yeah, that was a complete accident(!)

No, because we was sat down.

I didn't just go, "Ahh! Doosh!"

With rumours flying around the school,

my fellow science teacher, Miss Pander,

tries to find out exactly what happened.

So, she's called Kyran and Alex in for a chat.

What happened yesterday in my lesson?

Alex's pencil fell on the floor

and I was kicking it towards him

and I don't know how, but my foot slipped over and nudged him a bit.

I don't know whether Kyran's foot slipped

or he didn't think the pencil has gone away

and was trying to kick it again,

but I bent down and got kicked.

So, what do you want to say to Alex about yesterday?

-Sorry.

-That's all right.

-OK. Do you want to shake on it?

Accidents happen and, you two,

you just need to keep an eye on each other.

Apologising for something that you didn't do on purpose

is quite annoying

because you didn't mean to do it,

but you have to say sorry for doing it.

Miss Pander is quite nice

and she deals with things in a good way.

OK, good luck!

So that's the end of that! Back to lessons, lads.

In Geography, 7AG are in groups, designing a plan of the school.

Come on! Come on, Kyran!

We are going to do a presentation and we are going to keep this card

so people will have something to say,

and if you forget, so these are very precious.

Delight has taken the role as group leader,

but not every shares her enthusiasm for the task.

-What are you doing?

-KIDS CHATTER

Right here in the middle is the...

BOY MOCKS: Right here in the middle! Right here in the middle! Sorry!

When I first came to this country I was pretty shy

but then, after a while, and I knew what to say

and I knew I'd stand up for myself,

I grew a lot more confident and I'm pretty happy with that,

I don't want to be hiding in the corners.

I want to be right there in the middle!

I'll help you two guys.

You two write, "Welcome to our presentation."

How about you write something?

It's like I'm looking after little tiny babies!

Put that down. Kyran, put that down.

Delight, stop being bossy.

'I can be quite bossy, and in that bossy way I'm also pretty serious.

'So I'm like, "Let's do this right now."'

I think it's important to set an example.

I'm just going to keep trying hard, I guess,

and I'll see where it gets me.

Good for you, Delight, but you've got your hands full with this lot.

What are you doing, Kyran?

Whilst Delight is trying to be a model pupil,

in 7AG, Kyran's and Alex's behaviour

seems to be taking a turn for the worst.

Boys, we have a sanction thing in school

that if you are warned by several times of staff,

that you'll then... I'm on my third time now asking you to work.

We got told off a lot. We talk too much.

Yes, yes, yes, we do.

And there are more warnings in French.

Je m'appelle!

You're going to get me in trouble!

Whoop! Whoop!

Boys!

'Sometimes I can get carried away'

because I have got a lot of energy.

I don't mean to get into trouble, but like, I just do.

This is your last chance, OK?

Hmm, I don't think they're listening.

Boys!

Now, when I speak in English,

it means somebody's getting into trouble.

(What are you laughing at?)

It is nice to sit next to each other,

but it does lead to trouble because we make each other laugh.

-And then land on your feet, can you do that?

-Yep.

-Swanky!

-OK, then!

But in tutor time, the boys test Miss Gibbons' patience to the limit.

Close your mouth.

He said, "Swanky"!

If you cross the line, then she will tell you off.

APPLAUSE

Settle down...because you will be split up. I'm not lying.

I think our tutor group talk a lot and I think she gets a bit annoyed.

..going to have a look around the school and see if they like it,

and get a little bit of a feel for the school.

Do you want to go wait outside?

-Now?

-Go and stand at the door, please.

Right, seriously when I ask you to be quiet...

Year 7, can you keep this noise down, please?

OK, not only was I talking,

you were throwing things up and trying to eat them, OK?

Surely, Alex will settle down now?

-Alex! Are you talking about who your hero is?

-Yeah.

-I hope so.

Hmm, maybe not.

I absolutely hate being told off.

It just gives me this massive sinking feeling.

When I get told off, which is very rare,

very rare, just getting that word out, rare.

Um, I feel ashamed.

You can't just go, "No, I'm not having a detention,

"I'm not even talking."

You've just got to take the fall for this stuff, don't you?

-That's life.

-That's life.

I think they should give you a second chance.

Thankfully, I haven't had a detention yet, so...

But if I did get a detention for something that I hadn't done,

then I'd be really annoyed.

I'm not scared of teachers, no way.

Only the head teacher and the deputy heads like Mr Skerry

and Miss Spellman... I've never been shouted at by them, yet!

SHE CHUCKLES

No. Sh! Right, take a seat, listen!

So the tutor group can get to know each other a bit better,

Mr Glendenning has asked them to bring in a personal item from home.

First person up... Come on, Delight.

It's a chance for Delight to share some memories

of her life in Zimbabwe and to show the class her favourite photo.

When you're ready, Delight, describe what it is.

This is a picture of when I graduated the...

of when I graduated nursery.

CLASS COOS

Awww! You don't look any different.

We did a performance as well,

and like, we were all like singing

and like doing dances and everything

with everybody around. And my mum came as well,

and she had a big present for me afterwards.

What song did you sing?

I don't remember, I know a bit of the words.

-C'mon then.

-ALL: Sing it! Sing it!

We just want to hear you sing.

ALL CHANT: Go, Delight! Go, Delight!

They were all like, "Sing, sing, sing, sing!" I was like, "OK."

One, two, three, four!

# Listen to the voice

# I hear a melody

# I sing, again complete

# Listen, to the sound from deep within... #

-Wow!

-CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Well done.

It felt really weird, but then, afterwards,

everyone was like, "Delight, you sounded so good! Sing for us again!"

When I'm singing, I feel kind of different,

I can't really explain it,

I'm just really happy and I'm just lost in the music.

It gives me confidence.

It looks as if Kyran's messing around

is beginning to affect his work.

I'm looking around and I can see quite a few people

with the questionnaire I asked you to fill in.

Math's teacher Mr Clayton gave 7CG some homework to do.

Put your hand up if you haven't brought that in for me, please?

But Kyran hasn't completed it.

No-one? That means I should be able to see it on everyone's desk

and I can't see it on yours, Kyran.

I brought it in, but half done.

-Why is it only half done?

-I didn't get the time.

No, that's not an excuse.

If you got homework on one day

and you didn't get time to do it,

and then the next day, you get two pieces of homework,

you'd just be packed with homework.

Right, so are you telling me

that you didn't have ten minutes to spare last night,

and that you only had five minutes spare and that you did half of it?

Well, I think I didn't do it because I was busy that day,

and then when I tried to do a bit in the morning,

and then didn't get time.

So, just what were you doing, Kyran?

Um, well, I was eating my tea.

I filled in some last night and then I filled in a bit more.

So, what you're saying is you did a bit last night and more this morning

and you didn't give it enough priority to do it all in one go?

-I had to help my dad do some stuff..

-Stuff, like?

Like fix... I think it was the floor

because I think there was a big crack,

And then thinking about it, and I did a bit after that.

A very believable story(!)

Hmm, carry on like this, Kyran,

and everything might start going horribly wrong.

Right, can everybody who's doing their speech, come to the front?

Quietly! Quietly!

At the start of the year, each tutor group elects two students

to be on the school council.

Can we now have...Delight?

In 7AG, Delight has decided to run for election,

and this is her big moment.

Good afternoon, 7AG. You all know me as Delight,

but, hopefully, with your vote and your help,

I will have the pleasure of being your new and first student leader.

'I think it's important to set an example.'

Some people will follow you, listen to what you have to say sometimes,

but it's quite important because people expect you

'to be more sensible than the other people.'

I would like to promise you that you will get everything you want,

but that would be me telling you lies,

and that is not what being a student leader is all about,

especially not this one.

But I can promise you, I will try my very best

to get you what you want and need,

all of you, this whole class, including you, sir!

Then, I guarantee you, I'm the girl to pick.

Round of applause!

Right at the end, everyone clapped and I was happy,

and everyone was like, "Oh, you're going to win! You're going to win!"

Delight did well, but she knows there's plenty of competition.

Over in 7CG, Kyran's also decided to run for the School Council.

After his recent behaviour,

could this be a chance to impress the class

and get back into Miss Gibbons' good books?

-OK, mature?

-Ahem...

IN POSH VOICE: I should be student leader because I wasn't... What?

Not a great start, Kyran, have another go.

IN NORMAL VOICE: I should be a student leader

because I wasn't part of anything in primary.

I'm good at listening to people's ideas, I'm responsible,

and I can follow instructions that a teacher gives me

and will...will be helpful.

APPLAUSE

Is that everything? OK, brilliant! Well done, Kyran.

I decided to run for student leader because I like being the captain.

It was kind of nervous,

because you don't know how to pronounce the easy words

because like, your nerves, they're a bit like, over the top.

That felt stupid.

Why? You sounded lovely.

-Because they were laughing!

-Very professional.

Ah, Miss Gibbons seems impressed. Could the tide be turning for Kyran?

Meanwhile, Delight has been trying

some of the many activities that Year 7 has to offer.

I guess, in my free time,

I want to be doing something that I really like.

So, when I join like all drama or music.

I want to let them know that I'm ready to do this.

# Downtown

# Where the hop-heads flop in the snow

# Down on skid row... #

You have to latch onto "Downtown" not "Downtown!"

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

Yeah, it's all out there.

But as well as the music and drama clubs,

there's some exciting news for Delight.

In December, we're going to be holding

a talent competition for all of Year 7.

CHEERING

And Mr Glendenning's got high hopes for 7AG.

We're going to win the talent competition, aren't we? Aren't we?

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

But first, they'll have to assemble a crack team of performers

and, it seems, everyone wants to audition.

Hello, honey!

# Y-M-C-A! #

# Our song on the radio but it don't sound the same... #

Delight loves singing. and she seems pretty confident.

If they do choose me,

then we get to sing in front of the whole Year 7

and win for our class and show that 7AG is the best,

and I really want to do that.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# I believe there's children crying

# I believe there's soldiers dying... #

But, hang on a minute, she's got some competition in Chloe.

# Oh, I believe, you believe, we'll both believe... #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

With her nerves growing,

Delight turns to classmate Yass for reassurance.

I think you're going to win, you're amazing. You're good at singing.

Aw, thanks. I don't know.

Chloe's like my one person that I think I like need to compete with

because her voice is really amazing.

I don't know. I'm so scared though. It's really scary.

Nobody can be confident all the time.

Feeling inspired when you start Year 7 is really important,

whether you're creative, academic or sporty.

Local athlete Kat Copeland

won a gold medal for rowing at the 2012 Olympics

and was awarded an MBE.

Um, hello, thanks for having me.

The school have invited her to talk to Year 7

about how she stayed motivated.

Two main things, looking back, that I would say to you,

that I wish someone had said to me when I was in Year 7.

Set little targets and be ambitious

and want to make yourself better, little goals,

and that persistence is so important.

It's really fun to see people that have achieved something higher

and that, knowing that one day, if you try as hard as them,

you can be just like them and you can be on that stage.

So, yeah, it was really good, I really liked it.

You're not going to learn French in a week,

and you're not going to become an Olympian in a year,

it's just trying hard and doing a little bit every single day.

Great words and exactly what Delight needed to hear.

There's just time to announce the winners of the student elections.

From AG, we have Adam and Delight.

Delight's election speech managed to win over the class, after all.

I didn't really think I would win.

I thought they would just listen,

but they wouldn't really pick me, but I was glad when they did.

But Kyran has been pipped at the post.

Never mind, there's always next time.

I was...

I felt like...not gutted

but a bit upset,

because I didn't get the chance.

But I think they deserved it because they were good.

APPLAUSE

Cheers, Big Ears. And, thanks, Big Pants.

Kyran's trying really hard to settle down into life at Our School.

Yay!

He's not sitting with Alex any more,

which just might help them both focus a bit better in lessons.

I think there will be changes in me next year and in a few months.

I've got a good one.

I think I might be more mature.

# Duh-duh-duh-duh-duh... #

Ride a motorbike.

Well, let's hope so anyway.

And Delight's doing really well so far,

but with the Year 7 Talent Show only weeks away,

will she be ready to take to the stage and face the music?

Next time, on Our School,

we'll meet Harry, who loves his dinosaurs.

HE MUTTERS EXCITEDLY

And James, who's trying to get to grips with his dyslexia.

What would you want other people to know about being dyslexic?

How hard it is.

MUSIC DROWNS SPEECH