Episode 5 School for Stars

Millions dream of fame, success and life in the spotlight.

But few realise what it takes to make it to the very top.

We're back inside one of the most famous stage schools in Britain.

It needs to be cleaner. It's got to be perfect.

We'll take you behind the scenes

as we follow all the highs and lows of the summer term.

It's hot, it's passion.

And show you what life's really like for those heading for the big time.

# You've taken my heart... #

-High five!

-That's going to bring down the house. Trust me.

This is the School for Stars.

-Up we come.

-Coming up, Layton gets pushed to the limit.

-Get up!

-Come on, up!

-Olivia has to face leaving her friends for ever.

-It's upsetting.

-Johnny tries to stay on the right side of his teachers.

-Johnny, get all of those things right!

-Sad face. It's not good.

Italia Conti is a school with a difference.

The pupils here spend half their day studying

and the other half singing, dancing and acting.

Many dream of becoming the new Pixie Lott, Ashley Banjo or Emma Watson

and will work seriously hard to make that happen.

But like any other school, the pupils have to sit academic exams

and for the Year 11s, the dreaded GCSEs are under way.

But one student trying to forget the stress

of exams for just one day is Belle.

How are you?

Today, it is my 16th birthday.

-Happy birthday!

-And I'm really excited.

It wouldn't be a birthday at this school without a song

from everyone's favourite Maths teacher, Mr T.

# Happy birthday to you

# Happy birthday to you... #

Belle likes to stand out from the crowd.

Belle has a really different style.

She's got her nose pierced and her crazy red hair.

-I just guess I am who I am.

-She may be in the middle of her GCSEs,

but Belle is still one of the biggest characters in the school.

-She's really loud.

-Whoo!

She's individual.

Really outgoing.

-Bubbly.

-She's up for anything all the time.

But if Belle wants to do well in her GCSEs,

she'll have to work on her time-keeping.

She's never, ever, ever on time for anything.

Sorry I'm late. Am I late?

Ever. Ever.

Sometimes I do forget that I have GCSEs.

Just for these next few weeks,

I'll have to take a step down which will be hard for me.

INAUDIBLE

One of the subjects Belle struggles with most is Maths.

But if anyone can help her get a good grade, it's Mr T.

Treat it as two things.

'At the beginning, my Maths wasn't at all one of my strongest.'

And now for him to help me as much as he has, it is amazing.

Maths is the subject, but if I can support, then that's what I do.

-A, B, C...

-X squared is A, X is B...

Yeah, the number in front of, not the X squared.

The number in front of it.

Very good. OK.

And you're smiling. OK, good. I'm winning.

I personally want an "A" purely for Mr T,

so I can, like, do him proud.

But Mr T is worried Belle isn't as committed as she needs to be.

There's been a catalogue of lateness and non-appearance.

I think she'll be disappointed if she doesn't get the result

that she potentially can achieve.

She has one final revision session to go

before her Maths GCSE, so can busy Belle find the time to repay Mr T?

# Cherry pies are delicious and apple pies "R2"... #

"A" what?

Around the school, pupils are preparing for their end-of-year show

to take place in a central London theatre.

Layton has had six weeks out of school working on a comedy series

and found coming back to rehearsals a shock to the system.

I'm not as fit as I used to be.

I know I can do better, so I've just got to carry on.

Layton is in the first year of senior school, but will perform

with much older students for this routine.

I am the only boy from first year that made it into the number.

Bit of pressure, but I'm ready for it.

Today, they have a lesson with top choreographer Mark Webb.

-Come on, guys.

-Who was surprised how unfit some students were last time.

It's been a bit of a problem, people's energy and fitness levels.

I want to prove to Mark that I've worked on my fitness,

rehearsed the number and he's made the right choice putting me in it.

Mark has a surprise plan to find out which of his dancers are fit enough.

We're going for a run, yeah?

We'll run round the Barbican, back into the park,

a few sit-ups, a few press-ups, then straight back here.

Fitness is important for dancers

who sometimes perform for hours at a time.

Stay with me, yeah? Let's go.

Mark starts with a race of three laps around the block.

Come on, Layton!

It's a nice surprise to see who comes in first.

Good lad! Come on, let's go. Good boy.

It feels brilliant, actually.

I'm leading the pack. I'm going full-out. It's not that bad.

Now it's time for a power walk over to the local park

where Mark wants them to work even harder.

Sit-ups, here we go. Five, six, up we come.

# I gotta reach, I gotta reach I gotta reach higher... #

Stretch out, Layton. Good.

# We gotta move, we gotta move... #

There's quite a few people struggling.

# You can't tame this energy inside... #

It just shows you've got to be fit.

# Louder

# Stronger

# Further... #

I didn't find it more difficult than anybody else, so that's been good.

-Let's go!

-Layton may be happy,

but this is just a warm-up for what comes next -

a gruelling two-and-a-half-hour rehearsal

and Mark has one more surprise in store for Layton.

# Hey, I heard you were a wild one... #

Johnny impressed Karen and won a lead role in the end-of-year show.

Do you think you'll be able to do it? Let's do it.

But some other teachers have been less than happy with his work.

The young actor has been told off in lessons too many times.

-Can you do anything about this?

-Do about what?

So headmaster Mr Vote has put him on report.

-I'm going to see lots and lots of ticks, aren't I?

-Mm-hm.

So the teachers have to sign if I was good in class

or my effort or attitude...

So if I was good in class, I get ticks.

If Johnny's behaviour doesn't improve,

Mr Vote may have no option but to expel him from the school.

Johnny knows this may well be his last chance.

I've tried not to fidget, concentrate in lessons, stuff like that.

# Express yourself... #

Ballet teachers and Johnny haven't always seen eye to eye this term.

-You need to sort it out.

-OK.

-Yes?

-Mm-hm.

So how will top ballet instructor Mr Clark react?

Daily report? Are you on report?

I guess so. It seems like it.

Not good. OK...

He's not very impressed.

Johnny will have to be on his very best behaviour to get a tick here.

Fifth position. Are you facing me? I can't see most of you.

That's it. Posture, bring that...

Yes, that's better. Thank you.

PIANO MUSIC STARTS

GIVES INSTRUCTIONS

-Good.

-Johnny is doing a decent job of his sailor dance.

And it hasn't gone unnoticed.

So what does this mean for his report?

-There you go, Johnny.

-Is it good or bad?

-All ticks.

Johnny will have to keep this up in every class to impress Mr Vote

and hang on to his place at the school.

There are certain teachers who everyone wants to impress.

-Mark Webb is one of them.

-Layton comes in, he flips in...

Mark Webb is a brilliant teacher.

He's very passionate and that makes you want to work harder.

-Up, down, hip, head!

-Layton is one of the youngest dancers here,

so to win Mark's approval,

he'll have to keep up with some far more experienced students.

It's a huge challenge.

# Make me come alive, come on and turn me on

# Touch me, save my life, come on and turn me on

# I'm too young to die Come on and turn me on... #

Layton is keeping up OK, but as tiredness sets in,

Mark starts to lose his patience.

That's the worst I've seen it in about two weeks.

And he's in no mood for laziness.

Where's Layton?

-Get up. Come on.

-I'm stretching.

-Up!

Mark wants to give Layton a shot at being the star of the routine,

giving him a solo part that will close the number in dramatic style.

So you're going, "Ba, ba-ba, ba-ba, ba-baaa-ba-ba."

I've got a solo bit in this section.

I just have to do a few back flips and a little leg at the end.

The ceiling is too low to practise it properly, but come the big night,

Layton will have to land a series of back flips, finished with a kick.

A one, a two, a three, a four, a five, six and seven, eight, one.

With his solo in place, it's down to Layton and the rest of the dancers

to run the routine one final time.

Let's blow. Let's go!

And Mark wants it to be perfect.

Guys, this is a massive ending.

You hear that music? This is the big one. Really attack it.

# Do or die... #

Right, fantastic day. Feel proud of that.

That's going to bring down the house.

It's nice to be given the opportunity to show my skills. It went well.

-Layton's fitness is no longer a problem.

-Thanks, Mark.

His challenge now is to justify Mark's decision

to give him the solo.

With Maths GCSE tomorrow morning,

Mr T has invited everyone in Year 11 to an extra Maths revision class.

Right, let's get going. Let's get going.

The whole year is here, except Belle.

There will be an answer to a question,

then there will be a version of it which has a different place value.

Finally, over an hour late, Belle shows up,

but she doesn't even have an excuse for Mr T.

Well, hello!

The class is graced with the Belle. OK...

Let's go to the diagrams. What's the word they use?

-Correlation.

-Correlation.

Mr T is clearly disappointed with Belle's efforts.

If you'd been here a bit earlier, we might have seen what I was doing.

-You and your lateness, madame!

-I know.

-It hasn't helped you, has it?

-No.

You can still do it. Knowing you, you're still able to concentrate.

After her telling-off, Belle's confidence starts to crumble.

-I'm going to cry.

-What's up?

I know I'm going to fail, but it's my fault cos I didn't come to class.

That revision class showed me what I don't know, not what I do know.

I feel like I'm letting down Mr T and myself. I want to do well.

I'm having the worst day ever!

SHE STARTS SOBBING

GCSE Maths is the first thing tomorrow morning.

Can Belle do enough to turn this around?

Belle isn't the only one wanting to forget about schoolwork.

Attitude - very good.

And you've been working really hard on your writing, so "good effort".

While on report, Johnny seems to have found his focus.

-Keep that up, OK? In every class. All right?

-OK.

Being constantly assessed means Johnny needs a break too

and he's found a way to do it with a new mate - Ross from Year 9.

When you're skating, it's like nothing else really matters.

It's really fun. You don't really care about anything.

Ross is keen to help Johnny get off report as soon as possible.

I don't get why you're on report, Johnny.

-You've to not get distracted.

-I'm always thinking of something else.

It's all right. Keep the focus, then afterwards you can skate.

If Johnny can follow Ross' advice, he might not be on report for long.

At 9am this morning,

the Year 11s will be sitting their Maths GCSE exam in this room.

It's the last chance for them to get the grades they want.

If their revision was thorough, they'll make it.

Read everything first. Yeah? 2 or 3 minutes, tick what you want to do

and then go for it. Best of luck, guys. OK?

But someone is missing.

Has anyone seen Belle? Is she on her way?

Belle's not here. I don't know exactly where she is.

Belle isn't here and we're going in.

It's time for the exam to begin.

The exam's about to start. Still no sign of Belle. Presumably delayed.

So we wait and see. She has a half hour window,

so we just hope she arrives in that time.

With time ticking away, Belle shows up. She hadn't read too closely!

I thought it started at half nine. I'm going to run up there now.

But how will Mr T react now he's been let down again?

Hello. I thought it started at half nine!

-You ready?

-I'm OK, yeah.

-Just calm down.

You need to work. OK?

Go get it.

Panic over. Belle's arrived, within the half hour window,

looking a bit flustered. I've got her happy and off we go.

Belle's not the only one needing to make an extra effort.

Johnny's almost at the end of his first week of being on report.

Charlene? I have a present for you. Not a good one, but it's a present.

He's got a lesson with tough teacher Charlene and can't slip up.

Oh, this is your report. OK, cool. How are you doing?

-It says there.

-Good, good, good.

-How long are you on report for?

-I don't know.

-Are you going to behave?

-I guess so.

-I guess so?!

-I mean I am so.

-"I am so". I like that. That's good.

-OK, let's have a good class, all right?

-OK. I'll try.

-You'll try?

-No, I am so. LAUGHTER

Even though he's supposed to behave, Johnny's in the mood for mischief.

Five, six, seven and...

-Behind, side, front.

-Tweel!

-Five, six, seven and... Beside, side, front.

-Tweel!

-And beside, side, front.

-Tweel!

OK, I'm banning the word "tweel"! There's no such word. Pirouette!

We're not allowed to use twaggle. Banned. It's meant to be pirouette.

Sad face. It's not good. Sad about that.

-Twaggle? Wasn't it tweel?

-New word - twing.

Twing. Or twang.

-Johnny! Don't say that word.

-Twang?

How will Charlene mark his report?

-How do you think you did?

-Good.

-Do you? That's humble(!)

I think you did good as well. Well done. Can you keep it up, please?

I just had Jazz and it went really good. The teacher said I was fine.

Somehow Johnny's pulled that out of the bag.

Maybe it was the twaggle or the tweel.

GCSE Maths is now over and most of the Year 11s

will never have to sit another Maths exam again.

If you'd done your... your major revision,

there was something in most sections to have a go at.

I feel like I've done a lot better

than I was anticipating. Now I feel like I could have an all right mark.

-How do you reckon you did?

-I don't know. I ran out of so much time.

But you worked... you worked through it OK?

I hope I've done well, for Mr T.

I did start to, like, panic and then he did calm me down.

-I was so glad that he was there.

-I started off with a young lady

who hadn't any confidence or love of Maths.

Now I think she loves the challenge that maths problems give her.

All over now. Done now. Degree Maths next year, perhaps.

-Oh, yeah(!)

-Go dance instead!

It makes me sad, but more so I'm going to miss Mr T than anything.

I actually will miss Maths!

With GCSE exams almost complete,

the Year 11s near the end of their time at junior school.

Now on permanent study leave, they only come for rehearsals and exams.

Can you please print your surname in block capitals?

Before leaving, it's a tradition to have their own showcase in Assembly.

Guys, are you ready to go? You can finish your costumes after.

Judging from the outfits, it should be quite a show

with Georgia as a cavewoman and Belle as a banana?!

It's Bill and Ben, then you guys. That's the music set.

One of those preparing for the farewell performance is Olivia,

who's dreamt of stardom since age 6.

I'd love to be a singer and a bit like Florence and the Machine.

I wanted to do this full-time, so my parents worked hard to keep me here,

which was a sacrifice.

SHE SINGS

Performing is the only way for me. I'd never work in an office.

If it didn't go the way I wanted, I don't know what I'd do.

Several Year 11s like Tyler have been awarded DaDas,

which pay for them to go to senior school after their GCSEs.

-I'm coming back with a DaDa.

-Yes!

All the other students with DaDas have been told,

but Olivia has heard nothing.

Right now I don't know what I'm doing next year for college times,

which is quite annoying and confusing and really upsetting.

Everyone else is settled apart from me.

But now it's time to forget about the future. The show must go on.

This is our little showcase thing so you remember us.

With the stress of exams mounting, this show is all about fun.

And dancing bananas, obviously.

CHEERING

And guess who wrote a song for the big day.

It's special guest Mr T.

# Forward we go... #

And pretty soon the tears start flowing.

# ..one final show

# This last time together then make our own way

# And we'll never forget here On this our Leavers Day. #

CHEERING

OK!

Bless you.

That was really emotional and really sad.

It feels like the end of an era and it's hard to say goodbye properly.

I don't want to say goodbye.

That's it. We're gone now. I think we got a good send off.

It's really overwhelming and sad. But it's happy at the same time.

Everyone's crying, teachers are crying. They mean the world to me.

Most of Year 11 can celebrate Leavers Day

knowing what they'll be doing after GCSEs.

Poor Olivia still doesn't know if she's staying or going.

Olivia isn't the only person thinking about leaving.

Johnny is at the beginning of school life, but it's not started well.

They may kick me out of school. I'm trying my best to be good.

Johnny has been called to Headmaster Mr Vote's office.

Right. OK, hi, Johnny. You know what we're here for.

-A little look at your report.

-There you go.

I have made it my business to talk to your teachers on a regular basis

and say, "How was Johnny today?" And they all said hugely improved!

Great. They were very pleased with you in Jazz.

And you really have made a significant effort

to make sure you learnt a lot and allowed other pupils to learn a lot.

-How do you feel about it?

-Good, yes.

We're away. Go forth and be brilliant. Thanks, Johnny.

Johnny's had his first review. He's done very well.

He's becoming a very changed young man.

Sometimes when you go to Mr Vote's office, you can be in trouble,

but today it was a good thing, so I liked it.

With the Leavers Day fancy dress packed up, Olivia faces her future.

Without funding, her dream of becoming a singer could be over.

I don't want to leave here yet. I haven't finished what I've started.

I've been here for five years now.

-Good luck.

-Thanks.

She's meeting the school's Principal to talk about after her GCSEs.

Today could mean... being here and being a student

or not doing anything, really.

Come in!

-Olivia. It's lovely to see you.

-Good to see you.

-How are your GCSEs going?

-Really well, actually.

I don't know if this is a good moment for me to see you.

I hope this doesn't throw you,

-because am I right that you really badly want to come back?

-Yeah.

-But we've a bit of a dilemma. What's your Plan B?

-I don't have one.

Oh... Better give you a DaDa then, hadn't I?

-Don't you think?

-I wish you would. Did.

-I think I can.

-What?

-We're giving you a Dance and Drama Award.

This is the nice bit of my job.

-Thank you.

-You are very welcome.

You've worked very hard, you've got loads of potential.

You've got to prove me right.

-Thank you.

-Good day?

-Yeah.

Off you go.

'At first it sounded like there was nothing and then it turned around.'

Now I've got a DaDa award, so I'm really happy.

-'Hello?'

-Dad, are you with Mum?

-'No, darling. Why? What's wrong?'

Nothing's wrong, but I had a meeting with Anne.

'Right.'

And she gave me a DaDa.

-'A full DaDa?'

-Yeah.

-'Are you serious, Olivia?'

-Yeah, serious.

'Oh, baby! How fantastic!'

Congratulations!

All right!

I'm so happy for you.

After this, it's taken so much stuff off my shoulders. I have no worries.

In life, you never know what's around the corner.

Sometimes we get good news and sometimes bad.

Both will come your way. The trick is learning how to deal with each.

Next time: end of year rehearsals step up a level.

It needs to be lifted. If you don't, I'll maybe have to have a rethink.

-And Max finds performing in public hard.

-I don't know what to do!

-I don't know what to play.

-This is life at the School for Stars.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd