You've Got a Friend Our School

BELL RINGS

Meet Year 7.

-Awesome!

-Pt-choo!

It's the most important year of school so far.

You're not here to have a laugh and a good time.

HE BLOWS A RASPBERRY With so many changes...

-..new friends...

-Ooh!

-Have you got a cloth?

-..and new teachers...

-You ARE a Greenwood boy!

..it's an exciting world to discover.

-Wow!

-HE WHISTLES

It can be fun, but sometimes it can be tough.

There are different challenges for everybody.

We're in Year 7. We're acting like three-year-olds.

We've rigged another secondary school with loads of cameras...

Is this what you see when you look through a camera?

Cos this is awesome.

..so you can find out exactly what happens.

You're on report by my request.

I'm Trev. HE LAUGHS

I used to go to school here, but now I'm one of the teachers.

Last question, cos you're going to run out of time.

Welcome to Our School.

I need a wee.

When you move into the craziness of secondary school...

BLOWS A RASPBERRY, LAUGHTER

..everybody needs a bit of looking after,

-whether it's from the teachers...

-OK, what's the matter? Can I help?

..or your friends.

-Miss, I made him happy. He's fine.

-Thank you.

This time, we're going to get to know two more of Year 7.

Meet Donnel, or Don.

# My name's Donnel!

# What you gonna do when they come for you? #

And his classmate Lucy.

Well, that just got deep unexpectedly.

These two are like chalk and cheese, until you get to know them, anyway.

First up, it's time to meet the joker of Year 7.

Knock, knock. Who's there?

I don't want to find out who's there.

Don's not one of our quieter pupils.

We're going to tie in Shakespeare's language to hip-hop and rap, OK?

Yeah! Yeah!

-HE RAPS:

-# To be or not to be! Buh-buh-buh, chh, chh

# That is my que-stio-stio-stio-stion. #

And he has a pretty unique attitude to lessons.

Pilgrim.

Pilgrimage.

Siri, what is "pilgrim"?

A pilgrim is a traveller, literally one that's come from afar,

and he's on a journey to the holy place.

No-one has ever used Siri in my lesson before.

Well done for using your brain there.

Don is one of the more popular boys in school.

At school, I can't say I'm, like, popular-popular.

Everyone bows down to me.

People know not to try and be cheeky.

And he's made a lot of new friends since the start of Year 7.

Best friends are Kya, Ethan, Jayden, Thomas.

Always there for you, make you have a laugh.

Just have a good time.

Break it up, ladies!

But his behaviour has been landing him in hot water.

-Donnel!

-Yeah?

-Stop talking now.

My first day of secondary school,

I got in trouble cos I was speaking to my mates.

-If you continue doing that...

-What?!

I've told you numerous times to stop.

Don can be a very cheeky student,

and when he wants to be cheeky,

he can be just about the cheekiest student I've ever taught.

Don's become a bit of an expert here at our school

on getting into trouble.

I'll let him explain.

At school, there's a system. You get a verbal warning.

-That's your first warning, Donnel.

-What?!

A second verbal warning.

Second warning for you, Donnel.

A yellow card.

The next time you interrupt me, it will be a yellow card for you.

-Amber card.

-HE BURPS

And then a red card.

I've had enough of your comments.

You can go stand outside.

-Don's got Music today.

-Go!

And he's getting a bit carried away.

G... Oh, look at this.

Wa-chu, wa-chu, wa-chu, wa-chu, wa-chu-chu-chu!

-Miss, I don't know what to do.

-I've told you, it's on the board.

Yeah, Miss, but I'm really confused.

Second page. You write down what you think syncopation is.

I'm so weird.

Donnel, you're getting a little bit restless now.

You need to calm it down.

Sometimes they just tell you off for no reason. They're too strict.

"That's an hour detention for licking your lips."

Don't let you do things, and just, like, annoying sometimes.

Donnel! This isn't good enough.

This is your second verbal warning now.

What? I was putting it away. I was folding it.

I would love to see Don's behaviour improve,

because I think that he's not reaching his full potential.

The reason that he's not reaching his full potential

is because he's distracted so easily.

The history, then. It develops...

Donnel, stand outside, please.

-Stand up...

-Sort yourself out.

Here's someone who's never had a verbal warning in her life.

Meet Lucy.

Who's your favourite giant?

-You.

-Yass!

Lucy likes to be known as the BFG of Year 7.

As you can see, I'm very tall, and I'm a very friendly person.

Love you!

I like to help people, which indicates big, friendly giants.

Lucy!

Save me from...

Again, what makes you think that I'll protect you?

You're big and you're friendly.

Sometimes because of my height, and sometimes the way I speak,

it can give off like I'm an older person.

I just got to an age where I looked a lot older than I usually was,

so he just stopped giving me stickers at the dentist.

Lucy has a big heart, and back in primary school,

she was nicknamed as "Mum of Year 6".

I feel like I'm quite a motherly kind of person.

I mean, I would comfort you if you're upset.

Are you OK?

If you are sad and if you are stuck, I will try to help you.

Why's there steam coming from there? I don't like it.

Probably because it's hot.

She looks after everyone, cos everyone goes, "Lucy, help me!"

Well, I do that, anyway.

But despite looking after so many people,

Lucy has her own problems, too.

A lot of people think that I am quite confident overall,

but I have a shy and insecure kind of side,

which is totally normal for me.

You've met Donnel and you've met Lucy,

but what you may not expect

is that they share a very unlikely friendship.

In your mind, what makes it seem like I care?

Our friendship is based

on me having answers and him copying them.

Come on, man! Help me!

Teacher better not watch this.

Don, you want that to help you,

so you can understand what was there.

-Anyone else?

-Miss, can I have one, please?

Lucy and Don go way back.

That's weak. Put your hand up.

In primary school, me and Don

were sat together at the carpet at the back, in Maths,

and we called ourselves "Math buddies".

Today, Lucy and Don have French.

TEACHER SPEAKS FRENCH

There are colours on your table.

You can also use the colours up front here, OK?

Miss, I've finished.

-You're basically right.

-What's brown? What's brown?

-Marron.

-Marron, yeah?

You basically put the name of it and then the colour together.

Sometimes he does ask for help, and I do.

I'll help him sometimes.

But all this can be frustrating for Lucy.

Is that right, though?

Yeah. Now look at the only ones that say "trousers" or "pants".

Trousers or pants. Trousers or pants.

Well done. You succeeded at life.

Most times when he asks me,

I'm like, "I'm not going to be with you forever,

"so I can't help you 24/7 with your work.

"You need to figure it out for yourself

"and put effort into your work to actually get it."

And even with all Lucy's help,

Don can still end up pushing things too far.

TEACHER SPEAKS FRENCH

HE LAUGHS

Shh! Don't call out, please, OK?

-So, I know...

-SHE SPEAKS FRENCH

DON LAUGHS

I'm really quite disappointed in your behaviour today.

Can you stop, please?

Ah, I think he might be overacting a bit here.

I'm going to be here all lunch hour,

so I don't mind if it takes us all lunch hour to finish this.

So, as everyone else heads out, Don is left behind in detention.

Wow! I've got a lot of words to say about this.

Detention is a horrible little place.

Whoever's talking will get a detention.

Yeah, shut up!

Hey! That counts!

SHE LAUGHS

Detentions.

Detentions. I get a lot of them.

I don't want any keyboards on.

Donnel, that is your instant detention.

I've had, like, a lot of detention.

Sometimes for, like, speaking in class.

I'm aware that it's lunchtime, but you have not earned the right to go.

You are in detention. Sit down.

If you're being naughty,

you have to stay behind after school.

You just sit there.

Detention is the most boring thing I've ever done,

cos you just sit in the chair, like, "I don't know what I'm doing."

You'll do the detention till four o'clock.

They try and make you jealous.

They eat chocolate bars in front of you.

I've got a cake here for Miss.

Naughty!

I do think, "Oh, I shouldn't have done this.

"I could've been doing better things than sitting here."

It goes through your mind that you wish, like, you'd never done it,

like you want to go back and then...not do that.

I do actually regret the things that I've actually done.

It's Tuesday, Period Two,

which for Lucy means Art with Miss Crowther.

-Keeping it for Halloween!

-All through this year,

the class are working on a project called This Is Me,

where they try to put their personalities down on paper.

This Is Me project is an art project about me.

It's not just about you, Wanesa.

Quack, quack! Quack!

It's a chance for everyone to get to know each other better.

The class have come up with a presentation that tells everyone

about all the things that are most important to them.

We could do a video or some pictures or a booklet,

whatever you wanted, to repespent... reperesent yourself.

-Represent, not "reperesent"!

-Yourself! Yourself!

Lucy has been working at home to get a head start.

Immediately thought, "I want to make a book."

I wanted to make it and put my personality into the book.

Lucy, just hold yours up.

Stand up and hold yours up, cos it looks really interesting.

-LAUGHTER

-No, no, it really does.

You've done something totally different.

Explain to the class what you've done.

Well, I had spare pieces of card at home,

so I thought that I could make a booklet out of it.

I just put all my interests, like, things that I like,

and just put, like, all my personality in one book.

That folder that you did is absolutely stunning.

Donnel, I'll be with you in two secs. Hold on.

Right, it's absolutely stunning.

Are you feeling brave enough to show the class

and talk about it next lesson?

Mmm...

Lucy's feeling very nervous

about presenting something so personal to the class.

When teachers come to me and say, "Can I put your work up here?",

I feel fine with it when it's on a board, or when it's something else.

But I don't like talking out loud sometimes.

Hopefully, Lucy will find the confidence to make this work.

I think that is a good way

to, like, overcome that hurdle of me being a shy person.

Don and Lucy have English with Mr Elliott.

They're doing Macbeth, and seem to be practising for a stage fight.

All right, Year 7s, you have five seconds to be quiet. Thank you.

Five, four, three, two, one.

We are done talking now, so Macbeth, Banquo.

The class have to act out a scene from the play,

and Don decides he wants in.

Ross will be coming into this next scene.

He just doesn't quite know who's who.

-Who's Ross?

-We also have Angus. Donnel, would you like a line?

-I want to be the First Witch.

-We are way past that.

We need somebody to act as Angus.

-If nobody says they want to, I will do it.

-I'll be Ross.

-He's a character that...

-I want to be Ross.

I think he really wants to be Ross.

-There's a character that comes in whose name is Angus.

-I'll be Ross.

But Don is soon up to his old tricks.

Stop touching me!

Imagine doing that, getting your hair and tying it to hers!

Ow, it's... Donnel!

That'll be sick!

Ohhh!

Don is really acting up today,

and I don't think it's going to end well.

You have an amber for speaking again.

-You have a detention after school for ten minutes.

-Ow!

Donnel! Close.

There will be people who will stay after class today

-for their continuous talking.

-Sir, have I still got an amber card?

Usually when a teacher is talking, you wait your turn to talk.

-Oh, my God! I asked one question.

-You don't interrupt that.

Macbeth is amazed the Witches' predictions have come true.

It looks like he's heading for some serious trouble.

When Mr Elliott tells me off,

sometimes I think he's doing it cos it's fair.

But sometimes I think almost everybody would've done

what I would've done for that thing.

Like, people would've reacted the same way that I would have.

You'll be back after school, cos you're not doing your work.

Once again, as the lesson ends, Don is held back after class.

-So, what's going on?

-Nothing.

-Why are we having problems?

-Cos.

-Because why?

-You always start on me.

-Why do you think I do that, Donnel?

-For no reason.

Donnel, you're out of your seat,

you're speaking to people, you're turned around.

The fact that you're talking all the time can't happen.

It just can't happen.

So, Donnel, easy fix, easy solution,

is when I ask you to stop talking, just stop talking.

Really hope we can have a better lesson tomorrow, all right?

Getting in trouble like this

means the school sends a text message home,

and that's not good news.

But despite all the backchatting at school,

when he's with his family, Don is different.

His mum and dad divorced when he was very young.

I live with my mum, my stepdad and my two little brothers.

Being a big brother,

it's like you've got, like, a lot of responsibility onto you,

to look after them and keep them safe.

He's particularly close to his mum.

It was just the two of them for nine years before she met his stepdad.

But, obviously, I care about all my family,

but my mum's, like, the one that's brought me up.

So, obviously, I ain't got a dad to go to,

so my mum's, like, the only one I can actually go to, so...

Yeah, I love him!

He can be like a little annoying brother sometimes.

Slash son!

But Don doesn't like it

when his family find out he's been in trouble.

When my mum gets a text when I get a detention,

it's, like, I'll probably be grounded for a couple of days,

and not be able to go on my Xbox or something.

So, despite all his cheekiness,

Don doesn't really want a reputation for being naughty.

When I get in trouble, I go through my head, like,

I wish, like, I'd never done it, or something,

I could take it back, what I done.

'Ahead of their presentations, the art class have a chance

'to put the finishing touches to their This Is Me project.'

Come in if you're coming to do some wonderful work with me. Hello.

'Unfortunately, Don hasn't actually started his yet.'

Oh, look!

He hasn't done his homework which I set how many weeks ago, Donnel?

How many weeks ago?

'The class have a chance to find pictures online

'that will help them with their talk.'

Are you using pictures off your phone, both of yous?

How do you work it?

'Don is up and running.

'His presentation is all about his family.'

-Oh, sir, look at my little brother.

-Nice. So, who are these?

-My mum and my brother.

-With their tongues out.

-Does presenting this stuff scare anybody?

-Me.

Who...? Only you?

-Yes, because...

-Why?

-..I don't like to speak in front of people.

-So, you know this stuff?

-Yeah?

Why were you happy to share this with me?

I'm happy to share with people and people have a look at it themselves,

but when I have to, like, read out loud

and, like, explain to a whole class, my nerves just get the better of me.

I understand what you're saying,

but this is something that you know everything about.

How much does this mean to you?

Not this book, but, I mean, like, art and doodling and drawing?

-A lot.

-A lot.

That's something you should share with people,

that passion and that enthusiasm for a subject.

Trevor and Miss Crowther really, like, persuaded me and helped me,

like, cos they say that I could explain it perfectly.

I just didn't feel comfortable with saying it in front of other people.

-Are you done? Log off.

-Yes, I'm done. Finally.

It's English.

Will Don be trying harder for Mr Elliott this time around?

Act I, Scene 4.

Malcolm is next in line and Macbeth sees the threat in Malcolm.

Can you tell me the answers, please? Otherwise the ruler gets it.

So, listening! To remind you of what has been happening.

-Act I, Scene 3...

-Sir, I read it?

Shh! No talking!

HE LAUGHS

Oooh!

Sir, I made penguin feet.

Donnel...

I'm giving you one last chance to stop talking,

because I continue to hear your voice.

He could be in some serious trouble here if he doesn't calm it down.

Pe-yah!

-Don!

-Pe-yah! Aw-ah-ah-ah!

Are you doing your work or not?

But luckily, Lucy steps in to sort him out.

Do you understand what you're doing, though?

-Yeah.

-What are we doing, then?

-No, I actually don't know!

You have to look at that,

and then we have to match it to what we think is on the board.

This tells us what's happening,

but we need to find the proof in the play.

When it comes to Don, I do feel like an extra teacher,

just helping him and, like, pushing him sometimes.

And with Lucy's help, Don ends up back on track.

What does it say up there that proves the point?

17. He's too full of the milk of human kindness.

Lucy can be a great help in class with Don,

because she's a very respectful and polite student,

and I feel like those qualities are passed along to Don

when they are working together, especially in English class.

So, therefore, you just got the perfect quote for that event.

Nice one, Don! Thanks, Lucy.

It's the day of the This Is Me presentation,

and Lucy has been preparing like crazy.

Miss, I hope you're happy with it,

cos I stayed up until one in the morning trying to finish it.

Don is first up.

-Donnel, you give me your card thing.

-Oh! Oh, yeah, yeah.

-This is really hard.

-DON SIGHS

Donnel is going first up,

and it's not easy being the first one.

It's not easy being anyone when you have to talk to a group

and you're not used to it.

Right, off you go.

Ooh, my family. You've got me, my brothers, and that's my mum.

How many sisters and brothers have you got?

Two brothers, one stepbrother and...one mum.

LAUGHTER

He obviously has a strong connection with his family.

You can tell, because nearly all of his pictures were family-based.

My auntie does that facial stuff.

She puts wax on her face and carves it out and that.

Can we all have a round of applause? Well done, Donnel.

I haven't had to nudge him in this project whatsoever.

For once, he didn't ask me for help.

The rest of the class get to have their go.

And you see that there, that massive slide?

That's taller than you think.

Obviously, my passions are music and animals.

And who's next?

Going next is Lucy.

I felt really, like, nervous.

I didn't feel comfortable with going up.

Come and stand at the front. Come and sit here.

-I'm not standing.

-Sit here and...

-I feel better from here.

I felt like I wanted to do it from the seat I was already sitting in.

But just this once, it's Don who's helping Lucy.

No, Lucy, you'll feel better in the chair, trust me.

It puts less pressure on you if you sit in the chair.

Donnel insisted that I'd feel better sitting in the teacher's chair,

which I did.

And Wanesa is on hand as her able assistant.

You've got my favourite art, my favourite books,

and something from my favourite movies.

What's the bottom one, where she's standing on the shell?

Birth Of Aphrodite, which was in, like, 1420, I think.

-And as you can see, you have people...

-Is she a mermaid?

No, she's not a mermaid. She's a god.

-Who's that guy on the top right?

-Andrea Bocelli.

I think he's blind, which is really impressive,

because he'd have to, like, read Braille with his fingers

to get to know the piece of music.

Divergent is my favourite book. It's also my favourite movie.

She's already told me what happens, and I wasn't impressed.

The book's amazing!

So, after all those nerves, it's a job well done.

I am pleased and chuffed that she did give me this challenge,

and I overcame it.

Can I have a round of applause for Lucy, please?

It's Period Three, and that means Maths with Mr Kilminster.

Right! You still haven't learned my rules.

Stay in your seat and don't talk over me.

When I'm teaching, you're constantly talking. Sit up straight.

So, who's in the hot seat today?

Is it them?

Is it him?

I really hope it's not Don.

You're constantly talking over me.

It's not!

Actually, it looks like Don is really trying to make an effort.

-10% of 600 is 60, yeah?

-Yeah, and then times that by three.

Times that by three, we get...

-Hundred and...

-30%, don't we? And you end up with what?

-180.

-Good lad. Well done.

-So, we've got 30%, yeah?

-And you've got to find 5%.

Then we find 5%.

5% is half of that, so it's half of 60, which is...?

-30.

-30. Well done, Donnel.

I got it right. I actually got it right.

And it's not just Maths.

Don's trying harder in a lot of his classes.

I think my behaviour has improved since the start of Year 7

and I ain't as cheeky as I used to be before.

Yes, Donnel. Stand up, come up.

I am proud of Donnel that he's got his head down more,

and I can see it sometimes that he is trying.

Guess who's finished? Donnel, the one who's the boss. Get me!

He's starting to realise that life is much easier

and much less painful when he is well-behaved.

But to be honest, I think Don will always have his cheeky side.

HE SINGS

Sometimes Year 7 can be pretty overwhelming.

Ohhh!

Having someone to talk to can make all the difference.

Is there anything that we can do to help you?

And there are lots of ways the school can help.

Our school's youth worker, Sean, and Miss Dockery

have an idea they want to pitch to Lucy.

Right, we've asked you to come in

because we've had reports back about how amazing you are,

basically, to supporting people in your year.

So, myself and Miss Dockery have looked into something

where we can try and have, like, wellbeing ambassadors

within the school for each year group.

So, a wellbeing ambassador is there for any Year 7 to talk to

when they're feeling down or upset about something.

I do like to talk to people and help them through their problems.

I mean, like, I was compared to a teddy bear.

How do you feel about doing something like that?

I think it would be something that I'd be interested in,

just supporting people.

We want you to go and pass your knowledge and kindness,

really, on to other students.

OK.

-Bye!

-Bye!

-See you later, Lucy.

Lucy's made quite an impression on Sean and Miss Dockery.

I thought I was going to melt. I was, like, "You're amazing."

Yeah, I'm coming. I'm friend.

Friend! Whoo-la-la!

Lucy's not even been announced as wellbeing ambassador,

and she's already helping people.

Who's bullying you?

I noticed that Sam was feeling a little bit upset,

so I brought her into the dinner hall

and I sat down and I had a chat with her.

Sam, you're going to get this through your life.

Loads of people have got it. But you...

-But it's not fair.

-Yeah, I know.

It's every single flipping day!

Sam...

You reacting like this means that he's won

and he's getting what he wants.

He's getting a reaction.

Being able to help Sam made me, like, open my eyes and feel like,

now I know why they chose me to be the wellbeing ambassador.

And this morning, Lucy goes public with her new role.

We've come up with a little idea,

where we're going to have wellbeing ambassadors for each year group, OK?

So, this ambassador will speak to people in their year group

about how they're feeling.

Yeah, we've had a really good think about this, OK,

and we've nominated Lucy.

APPLAUSE

I felt really, like, "Wow! This is, like, what I'm going to do."

-I felt really...

-Pride.

Yeah. Privileged.

BELL RINGS

I'm here for you, homies.

That's a big step for a girl who said she was shy.

Maybe Don and Lucy have helped each other.

She's feeling more confident,

and he's putting in more effort at school.

They've done it together.

I ain't got a book. No-one loves me.

Don, I'm here for you.

-Spencer rediscovers his roots...

-Is that a pie on your head?

..and gets a taste of life in the fast lane.

Ah! That's what I'm talking about.

-And from sports cars to sports stars...

-Go!

Dominique is going for gold.

I would like to be, hopefully, at the Olympics.

And splits! Lucy, I can do the splits, look.

I don't want to know. If you split your trousers, I'm going to laugh.

-I'm not going to sympathise with you.

-Going to fart!

Sometimes she can get a little bit hyper.

If it's something stupid, she has stupid ideas sometimes,

I just try and calm... just a tiny bit,

just to get her on ground level.

WANESA LAUGHS

See, right now would be a good time.