0:00:02 > 0:00:05Contains very strong language.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09Goetre Primary School on the Gurnos Estate, Merthyr Tydfil,
0:00:09 > 0:00:11home to 387 pupils.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17For head teacher Denise Morgan, this school on one of Wales'
0:00:17 > 0:00:21toughest estates has been her vocation for nearly three decades.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25This story is about a very special head teacher
0:00:25 > 0:00:29who is retiring Friday 18th July, 2014,
0:00:29 > 0:00:31and has been in Goetre Primary for 27 years.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Denise has made it her mission to champion
0:00:35 > 0:00:37the school as a place of learning,
0:00:37 > 0:00:42refuge and stability for some of the most deprived children in Wales.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48It's a job that has catapulted Denise into the finals
0:00:48 > 0:00:50of the Pride Of Britain Awards
0:00:50 > 0:00:52and won her an MBE for services to education.
0:00:54 > 0:00:55It's a big part of my life.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59SHE CLEARS HER THROAT
0:00:59 > 0:01:00A massive part of my life.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05As this matriarch of the Gurnos Estate takes on her final term
0:01:05 > 0:01:08as head teacher, we'll follow the highs
0:01:08 > 0:01:13and the lows of her last days at the school on the Gurnos.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19After 27 years,
0:01:19 > 0:01:23I feel really a part of this community, I really do.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26The Gurnos has not been without its problems over the years
0:01:26 > 0:01:30but I think with the community spirit that is here now, I think
0:01:30 > 0:01:34they've got every chance to put it right.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38Built in the early 1950s, the Gurnos Estate became notorious
0:01:38 > 0:01:41for crime, and it is still struggling with some of the
0:01:41 > 0:01:44highest figures for unemployment and social deprivation in Wales.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50But for Denise, educating the youngest generation in one
0:01:50 > 0:01:53of Wales' most challenging catchments has been her life.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56July 18th will be my last day
0:01:56 > 0:01:59and I think that's going to be quite emotional.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01I've actually blanked the day out for that day.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03There's nothing going on that day except...
0:02:03 > 0:02:04Mrs Morgan.
0:02:08 > 0:02:09# One, two, three
0:02:09 > 0:02:11# Give it one Give it two
0:02:11 > 0:02:14# Give it one, two, three
0:02:14 > 0:02:17# We are the children of Goetre School... #
0:02:18 > 0:02:20Leaving is not easy for Denise.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24She is intricately bound into the lives of many of her pupils.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29With poverty comes a lot of problems, doesn't it? You know.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33And we know that some of our children are experiencing
0:02:33 > 0:02:35drug and alcohol abuse within the home,
0:02:35 > 0:02:38which leads to domestic violence,
0:02:38 > 0:02:41but I think when they come into school,
0:02:41 > 0:02:45they feel very...very safe and very calm.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48It's a very calm, very relaxed atmosphere
0:02:48 > 0:02:51and it's a very stable atmosphere for them.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56Despite Denise's best efforts,
0:02:56 > 0:03:00the problems of the estate do impact on school life.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Well, I've just had the caretaker come to tell me now that
0:03:03 > 0:03:08we've caught two people under the subway injecting,
0:03:08 > 0:03:10and he's obviously very concerned about this
0:03:10 > 0:03:13cos there are children passing now on their way to school.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16So my family education support officer now is just checking
0:03:16 > 0:03:20the cameras to see what's happened and we'll be phoning the police.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22So he's injecting into his foot.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24And he takes it straight out of his foot now
0:03:24 > 0:03:26and then injects it straight into her.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30It's a fact of life at the moment that these things are going on.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33But what's upsetting for me is to think that people are doing this
0:03:33 > 0:03:36in broad daylight in full view of my children, which...
0:03:37 > 0:03:39..which is very upsetting, really.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43The problem that we actually would have there is the children
0:03:43 > 0:03:46that actually witnessed it are like our reception children
0:03:46 > 0:03:47and they're too young...
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Ann Broadway is Denise's family education support officer.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55It's her job to manage relations between the school, parents,
0:03:55 > 0:03:57police and other outside agencies.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02To see our reception children and year one children turning round
0:04:02 > 0:04:05and watching that, that's quite sickened me.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08So I dread to think what the parents must have been feeling
0:04:08 > 0:04:09who have watched that this morning.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11And I need to do an assembly on it.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15The events of the morning raise some serious questions about
0:04:15 > 0:04:19how to introduce difficult subjects to even the youngest pupils.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24- Now, I know that I do a lesson with them in year two.- Yeah.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26Who, what, where? Who is allowed to give us medicines?
0:04:26 > 0:04:29What medicines are safe to take and where's it safe to keep them?
0:04:29 > 0:04:32And I show them a syringe in that lesson and, you know,
0:04:32 > 0:04:36give them a warning so that they do get some medication in that area,
0:04:36 > 0:04:40but it's not until year two, year one and reception...
0:04:40 > 0:04:42- You wouldn't think, would you?- No. - You wouldn't think.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45There are very few days where we can come in, lock the door
0:04:45 > 0:04:47and just get on with things calmly.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49That's the nature of our job.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53But, I mean, I'm here as well to support that with parents,
0:04:53 > 0:04:56because that's the sort of thing I was tackling on a day-to-day
0:04:56 > 0:04:58after the amalgamation, on my own.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03Denise took the pioneering step of creating Ann's non-teaching post
0:05:03 > 0:05:05when she realised that dealing with issues
0:05:05 > 0:05:09outside of education was becoming a full-time job.
0:05:10 > 0:05:11The two are a close team.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14That's been a tremendous support to me.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17And I know it'll continue cos that's the nature of the person
0:05:17 > 0:05:18I've appointed.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23PHONE RINGS
0:05:23 > 0:05:24'Hello?'
0:05:24 > 0:05:28Hiya, love, it's Ann, it is, down in the school.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30Hiya, love. Can you come and pick him up, please?
0:05:30 > 0:05:32He's got an exclusion for this afternoon.
0:05:35 > 0:05:36He...
0:05:36 > 0:05:40He's called another child a C-U-N-T.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Um, he's refused to speak to the member of staff
0:05:43 > 0:05:44who was dealing with it...
0:05:44 > 0:05:46Over the last three years,
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Ann's role has become pivotal to school life,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52dealing with issues ranging from bad behaviour
0:05:52 > 0:05:54to families in crisis.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Whilst Den is amazing, she knew that she could deal with
0:05:57 > 0:06:00all like the educational attainment and targets.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03The social and emotional issues here in the school just would
0:06:03 > 0:06:06have wiped it out completely, cos there are weeks where I may
0:06:06 > 0:06:10attend seven, or eight, or even nine social service meetings a week.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14Well, for Denise, if she was going out to do that, there is no way
0:06:14 > 0:06:18she could raise targets within the school.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20The government are asking us to tackle poverty
0:06:20 > 0:06:23and disadvantage from within school.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26We're here as educators but, without their social
0:06:26 > 0:06:28and emotional needs being met,
0:06:28 > 0:06:31education is not going to happen really, is it, for them?
0:06:32 > 0:06:35Everyone has just come back after going home.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38There is huge issues around Dad that I have to deal with.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41And Dad works in Cardiff, and the children tomorrow are due
0:06:41 > 0:06:44to go on a trip to the Sherman Theatre.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47So she's come back because she's that anxious about going
0:06:47 > 0:06:49to the Sherman Theatre in case she bumps into her father.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53But even though we're trying to explain Cardiff is like a huge place
0:06:53 > 0:06:56with lots of different areas and lots of different places,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59I can't convince her.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01For her, Cardiff's like that. Do you know what I mean?
0:07:01 > 0:07:04It's just a small little place like the Gurnos, and the chances are
0:07:04 > 0:07:07she'll bump into him, so she's not going.
0:07:07 > 0:07:08So...
0:07:08 > 0:07:11But, for me, I would rather have taken her
0:07:11 > 0:07:14and made her enjoy the experience and then...
0:07:15 > 0:07:19But I can't. I can't move her on it unfortunately.
0:07:19 > 0:07:20SHE SIGHS
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Oh, well, they're off on their annual trip to Dolygaer
0:07:30 > 0:07:32and as you can see there's great excitement.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34They absolutely love it.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36The best thing about going on holiday is no school.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40And that is right!
0:07:44 > 0:07:46For some of Denise's pupils,
0:07:46 > 0:07:50school trips are their first opportunity to get off the estate.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53This time it's the turn of the year five and six pupils,
0:07:53 > 0:07:57setting off on a three-day adventure break.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59We're opening their eyes really to the wider world out there.
0:07:59 > 0:08:05And it's just seeing their expression when they go to these places.
0:08:05 > 0:08:06Says it all really,
0:08:06 > 0:08:12because the excitement that they have and the realisation that there is
0:08:12 > 0:08:15another world outside of the Gurnos, really.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20- We're doing gorge walking, camping...- No, not camping.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24- ..canoeing...- Canoeing.- ..caving.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26This is everybody's last warning.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30Up in Dolygaer, myself and Miss Jones are not in charge.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32If you don't listen to an instruction
0:08:32 > 0:08:34when you're doing an activity,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37or somebody sulks over something that they don't like,
0:08:37 > 0:08:39they'll be coming home.
0:08:39 > 0:08:40That is a warning to everybody.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42It's teaching them different things,
0:08:42 > 0:08:45like he's never been away from home and his parents and everything.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48So it's three days thinking for himself.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50I put him on this morning.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52So it's good for the kids.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Well, there's no spending money, no mobiles,
0:08:54 > 0:08:58cos it's like going back in time up there. It's dark ages.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03I find a lot of the children who don't achieve in an academic way
0:09:03 > 0:09:06excel when we go to places like Dolygaer
0:09:06 > 0:09:08and the outdoor environment doing lots of things
0:09:08 > 0:09:11that they enjoy outside of the classroom environment.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17Chocolate sandwiches, crisps, more crisps, and more crisps.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20We did tell the children they were allowed to bring a few
0:09:20 > 0:09:25packets of sweets and maybe a few bottles of pop or squash,
0:09:25 > 0:09:29but some of them have brought half of Tesco's with them, I think,
0:09:29 > 0:09:31and brought a lot more.
0:09:31 > 0:09:37Chocolate cake, chocolate cake, more chocolate cake, Coco Pops.
0:09:39 > 0:09:40Whoa.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52Back in the silence of the school, it's a moment of truth for Denise.
0:09:54 > 0:09:59The advert for my job has gone out to press.
0:09:59 > 0:10:00Went out to press last week.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02I think this...
0:10:03 > 0:10:07..looking through this is making it very real at the moment now, so...
0:10:09 > 0:10:10I'm proud to have been head here.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14But...
0:10:14 > 0:10:16we'll hand the battle over to someone else for a while.
0:10:18 > 0:10:19SHE LAUGHS
0:10:33 > 0:10:34Find your grandparent.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38They are here, otherwise Mrs Broadway wouldn't have called your name.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45Becoming a grandmother and a grandfather is wonderful.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47One minute you're just a mother or a father
0:10:47 > 0:10:50and the next you're all wise and prehistoric.
0:10:50 > 0:10:51THEY CHUCKLE
0:10:53 > 0:10:57Grandmothers and grandfathers never run out of hugs.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03Denise introduced the popular "bring a grandparent to school day"
0:11:03 > 0:11:06to reach out to families on the estate and involve them
0:11:06 > 0:11:08in their children's education.
0:11:08 > 0:11:13Lots of our grandparents are the main carers for our children.
0:11:13 > 0:11:14Um, parents are out working.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18So, really, it was sort of valuing
0:11:18 > 0:11:21what they give back to the family really.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24While Bampa fixes your bikes?
0:11:24 > 0:11:25Is it?
0:11:25 > 0:11:29"Reminds me of Mrs Brown off the TV.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32"Cleans my cuts when I fall off my bike."
0:11:32 > 0:11:35The opportunity that those days provide us with
0:11:35 > 0:11:39is that we can talk about having aspirations for the children.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42To get through to the children, there is this can-do culture,
0:11:42 > 0:11:46"I can do, I can achieve," and we get grandparents
0:11:46 > 0:11:50to talk about perhaps the jobs that they had when they were working.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54My gran is a crazy woman.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58- SHE CHUCKLES - In a good way, not a bad way!
0:11:58 > 0:12:00It's hard enough to get on in the world, isn't it?
0:12:00 > 0:12:03But if you don't have a good education, you've got nothing, so...
0:12:03 > 0:12:07Especially around this area. They need it.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10And if anybody can help the parents, grandparents, all the better.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19The oldest pupils in year six are also preparing to move on this term.
0:12:19 > 0:12:20MUSIC PLAYS
0:12:20 > 0:12:22With high unemployment on the estate,
0:12:22 > 0:12:26Denise and the staff encourage these pupils to stay focused
0:12:26 > 0:12:29and avoid the mistakes that the older generations made.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32I think personally times are changing,
0:12:32 > 0:12:35and I think these children will move forward and achieve
0:12:35 > 0:12:37and have that drive.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40There are children who've gone through here in the last few years
0:12:40 > 0:12:42and you can see it in them in class -
0:12:42 > 0:12:48they are self-motivated, independent, enthusiastic learners.
0:12:48 > 0:12:49Caitlin is one of the ones...
0:12:49 > 0:12:52What did I tell you you've got to do in your new school?
0:12:53 > 0:12:55Go to your way?
0:12:55 > 0:12:58- You've got to go a... - Long way.- ..long way.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01- Do you think you'll always remember that?- Yeah.
0:13:01 > 0:13:02You will go a long way.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Sometimes they can just forget where they're heading
0:13:06 > 0:13:09and they need to be reminded
0:13:09 > 0:13:12that it doesn't matter where we're from, we can and we will achieve.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16And as I always tell them every year, every child here,
0:13:16 > 0:13:19"You can all go to college, you can all go to university."
0:13:19 > 0:13:21And they know that and they believe it.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24It's holding on to that belief for me.
0:13:24 > 0:13:25I've got to stop a minute.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29- SHE ANNOUNCES:- Right, Year Six, can you sit down, please? Quickly.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32All eyes on me, magnet eyes.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35We're going to walk quietly down to assembly.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41- Who's in charge of music today? - That's me, Miss.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Wait there, Rhys.
0:13:46 > 0:13:47MUSIC PLAYS
0:13:47 > 0:13:50# The name of the Lord is
0:13:50 > 0:13:53# A strong tower...#
0:13:53 > 0:13:57The daily assembly is part of the fabric of school life,
0:13:57 > 0:14:01and in this last term, the pupils are visited by local church group.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10What does God mean to these children?
0:14:10 > 0:14:12It's a little bit abstract for them in many ways, isn't it?
0:14:12 > 0:14:18But we try and do it through values more than anything
0:14:18 > 0:14:22and looking out for each other really, and caring for each other.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26MUSIC AND SINGING CONTINUES
0:14:29 > 0:14:31I have got a faith, I'm Roman Catholic.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36I was always brought up to think of others, to respect others,
0:14:36 > 0:14:41to consider other people's feelings and to be a good person,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45and that's what we try now with our children here, to make them
0:14:45 > 0:14:47good citizens, really.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04Denise's personal values have equipped her well to be a role model
0:15:04 > 0:15:07on an estate that's still struggling with social deprivation.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11More and more families are experiencing difficulties,
0:15:11 > 0:15:15and I think as a school we've become far more of a community school
0:15:15 > 0:15:17over the years since I've been here.
0:15:17 > 0:15:18That's the major change for me.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25The school currently has around 60% free school meals
0:15:25 > 0:15:32and over 50% of its cohort are on the additional learning needs register.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36We have a number of specialised units within the school to support
0:15:36 > 0:15:38children with a variety of additional learning needs.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44One in particular is a social and emotional behaviour unit which
0:15:44 > 0:15:48has a small number of pupils in it and a high staff ratio.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50These pupils are not just from our catchment area,
0:15:50 > 0:15:53they are from the catchment area of Merthyr Tydfil as a whole.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57It's the highest number of units in any one school really.
0:15:59 > 0:16:00It's not fair.
0:16:03 > 0:16:04THEY CHAT
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Each day brings fresh challenges.
0:16:08 > 0:16:09CHILD CRIES
0:16:09 > 0:16:11- OK.- Don't cry, don't cry. - You're all right.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15But some days are tougher than others for Denise and her staff.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17I've spoken to social services on it
0:16:17 > 0:16:19and I've spoken to them again this afternoon.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23But social services had since been out into the hospital
0:16:23 > 0:16:25and the woman had stabbed wounds
0:16:25 > 0:16:30and was black and blue from head to foot.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32Six children were removed from the property
0:16:32 > 0:16:36and put into the care of somebody and it was an inappropriate place.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41We've arrived back in school this morning to find out that
0:16:41 > 0:16:46one of our parents has been allegedly involved in a stabbing.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51Now, we don't know many more of the details of that
0:16:51 > 0:16:54at this moment in time, but the impact on that...
0:16:54 > 0:16:56The impact of that happening
0:16:56 > 0:17:01as a family must be tremendous, really, and extremely worrying.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06We've got masses of families who absolutely adore their children
0:17:06 > 0:17:09and work hard and support them and support the school,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12and then there's a small minority then where you feel,
0:17:12 > 0:17:15oh, they just need that extra support,
0:17:15 > 0:17:20and it just upsets you really to think what some of these children
0:17:20 > 0:17:22have experienced in their very, very young lives.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36Denise understands what it's like to go through trauma as a child.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40A tragedy in her own childhood shaped the course of her life.
0:17:43 > 0:17:48I lost my younger sister in the Aberfan disaster.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51She was 18 months younger than me
0:17:51 > 0:17:55and I think, you know, being such a close family,
0:17:55 > 0:17:57and when that happened,
0:17:57 > 0:18:03it...it absolutely rocked the family and my parents in particular.
0:18:05 > 0:18:11I can remember sitting in that school and being asked by a member of staff,
0:18:11 > 0:18:13"What are you going to be, Denise, when you grow up?
0:18:13 > 0:18:15"You've passed your 11+ now, you can go to college.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18"What are you going to be?" "I'm going to be a teacher," I said.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23Um, but I had to give lots of help and support to the family
0:18:23 > 0:18:26because there were four other children younger than me.
0:18:26 > 0:18:33So my sort of path through school was quite...turbulent
0:18:33 > 0:18:35and I had to resit lots of exams.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41I now have a very clear understanding -
0:18:41 > 0:18:42I have had over the years -
0:18:42 > 0:18:46of what some of these children are facing and how best to support them.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50And, yes, that's why I went into teaching, thinking, well,
0:18:50 > 0:18:55I can do something to help other children and, more importantly,
0:18:55 > 0:18:56their families as well.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04Working with families to keep pupils in school is top of the agenda.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09With some parents already jailed for their children's truancy,
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Denise has introduced class incentives.
0:19:14 > 0:19:22Best attendance out of the whole school is in...
0:19:25 > 0:19:27..Mrs McCarthy's class.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29CHILDREN CHEER
0:19:30 > 0:19:33We're really driving on attendance with all the prizes
0:19:33 > 0:19:35and the trips out for good attendance,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38so they are seeing the importance of being in school every day
0:19:38 > 0:19:42and it...in fact, it's become quite a competition between children now,
0:19:42 > 0:19:45questioning each other why they haven't been in school.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48Government guidelines are changing, so, you know, like with holidays,
0:19:48 > 0:19:52parents will be fined for taking them out of school on holiday.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54Lateness - parents can be fined now
0:19:54 > 0:19:56if their children are persistently late.
0:19:56 > 0:20:01So it is my job to get to these parents to stop it.
0:20:01 > 0:20:07There's been 6,448 illnesses from September to the 21st of May.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13Those parents are going to be asked to produce medical evidence.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15And if they can't produce the medical evidence,
0:20:15 > 0:20:17then these are going to be fined.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19So, things are changing.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28For the pupils, school life isn't just about being in the classroom.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30Uh, cameraman.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34# We're going to traffic wardens, traffic wardens. #
0:20:35 > 0:20:36We're going to...
0:20:36 > 0:20:38like traffic wardens.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40BOTH: If someone double parks...
0:20:40 > 0:20:42If people double park...
0:20:42 > 0:20:44Or they park in the wrong place, we tell them to move
0:20:44 > 0:20:46and give them a ticket.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49No, we don't give them a ticket, we just ask them to move.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54Parents wouldn't actually listen to the police,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57so I came up with the initiative with Merthyr transport
0:20:57 > 0:21:01and the police of picking children to be young traffic wardens.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07- I'm getting good at this...- Yes. - ..walking lark and the parking.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11You taught me a good lesson, you did, yesterday. And you did.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13- And me?- And you, yeah.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15So what I'm going to do now is start walking.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Right, do your jobs.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23- Move down a bit.- Would you mind trying to move down a bit?
0:21:23 > 0:21:24They're like Rottweilers, they are...
0:21:24 > 0:21:27when they see people parking where they shouldn't.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31- I like being a traffic warden because...- I did!
0:21:31 > 0:21:33He said he's going to park now like this.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37Like this. He never done it. Went like this.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42They now want to roll this out into like other schools in Merthyr now.
0:21:42 > 0:21:43But it only started on Monday.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46So this is unique. This is the first of the kind.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50- So... So we're the first ones, ain't we?- Yeah.
0:21:50 > 0:21:51Yeah.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53First young traffic wardens of Merthyr.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56And old traffic warden, that's me.
0:22:01 > 0:22:06HE SINGS INDISTINCTLY
0:22:06 > 0:22:10It's the end of school and it's the weekend, weh-heh-heh!
0:22:14 > 0:22:16# It's raining men...#
0:22:16 > 0:22:19Three days until Denise leaves and the staff are having
0:22:19 > 0:22:22a last-minute rehearsal for a special goodbye assembly.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27It's a chance for the school and community to celebrate all that
0:22:27 > 0:22:32Denise has done for the children and families of the Gurnos Estate.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35I'm feeling quite emotional today now cos there's lots and lots
0:22:35 > 0:22:38going on today and it's a bit of a reality now really.
0:22:38 > 0:22:39Three days left to go.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:22:49 > 0:22:53We're talking this morning about an end of a career.
0:22:53 > 0:22:59And Mrs Morgan has given 200% all the time
0:22:59 > 0:23:01because she is passionate about Goetre.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05Outstanding in all aspects.
0:23:05 > 0:23:10None other than an MBE from the Queen.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15The only head teacher who has led Goetre
0:23:15 > 0:23:18through an inspection since Mrs Heps came here,
0:23:18 > 0:23:19and that's over 20 years.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22It took a woman head for this to happen. Well done.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:23:37 > 0:23:39Pride of Britain.
0:23:39 > 0:23:40And of course,
0:23:40 > 0:23:43she's been the pride of the Gurnos Estate for over 20 years.
0:23:44 > 0:23:49You have given our school the roots needed to grow and flourish.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56I don't have any children of my own.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59But when I am asked, "Do you have any children of your own?"
0:23:59 > 0:24:01what do I say, teachers?
0:24:01 > 0:24:03THEY RESPOND INDISTINCTLY
0:24:03 > 0:24:06I say, "I have 387 children."
0:24:06 > 0:24:09And they look at me and go, "What?!"
0:24:09 > 0:24:14And I say, "I am head teacher of Goetre Primary School
0:24:14 > 0:24:18"on the Gurnos, which is the academy of..."
0:24:18 > 0:24:19- Excellence.- Excellence.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Never stop doing what you do,
0:24:24 > 0:24:29never stop being who you are and never stop singing my song.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32- You are simply the...- ALL:- Best.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34# You're simply the best
0:24:37 > 0:24:40# Better than all the rest
0:24:41 > 0:24:44# Better than anyone... #
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Retirement.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50Goodbye, tension. Hello, pension.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53# You're the best. #
0:24:57 > 0:24:58Her whole life, this has been.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00It has been her whole life.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02She's had bad times and good times
0:25:02 > 0:25:03but she's been through it all,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06you know, and she's worked really hard.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08And the children all love her and the teachers all love her.
0:25:16 > 0:25:1827 years of assemblies.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Five assemblies a weak.
0:25:21 > 0:25:22Thousands.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25Yeah, I've probably done thousands of assemblies in my time
0:25:25 > 0:25:28during the 27 years I've been here,
0:25:28 > 0:25:30both in the infants and the juniors. Um...
0:25:31 > 0:25:37But the assembly today has just... has been just so amazing. I just...
0:25:37 > 0:25:38That was beyond my wildest dreams.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42I never ever thought that I would experience that this morning.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05- Friday, last day at school!- Yippee!
0:26:06 > 0:26:09- Ah, is that a...- Toe ring.- Toe ring?!
0:26:09 > 0:26:12For you to have nice feet in flip-flops, Miss.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14I'll be able to use those now when I go on my holiday.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16SHE GASPS
0:26:16 > 0:26:17No, she's still in. I'm filling her car.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19- It's like a flower shop. - Ah, isn't that lovely?
0:26:21 > 0:26:23Just wanted to say thank you for your support.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25And believing in me.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27- I said to you all along. - I know.- Bye.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30THEY TALK WEEPILY
0:26:30 > 0:26:32- You look after yourself.- Yeah.
0:26:32 > 0:26:33Oh, gosh, love her.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36I'm just glad somebody else got to empty it the other side, not me.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42So, I'm sure there'll be another trip. I'm positive.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46With each parent that comes to pick a child is a gift.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53I just wanted to bring you all together to tell you it's all
0:26:53 > 0:26:54been a big joke, actually.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56LAUGHTER
0:27:02 > 0:27:06I just wanted to say a big, big thank you to you.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10I know I've worked here for 27 years, but in all my teaching career,
0:27:10 > 0:27:15I don't think I've ever worked with a more dedicated group of people.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18This school is not easy by any means.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21It's extremely challenging on times,
0:27:21 > 0:27:23and there are times when you've probably walked out of here,
0:27:23 > 0:27:27like I have, absolutely exhausted and on your knees.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30But you've always managed to come back in, pick up the pieces
0:27:30 > 0:27:32and start again.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36And really, I cannot thank you enough for that.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39I've always said it's my school, my school, my school,
0:27:39 > 0:27:41but it's our school really.
0:27:41 > 0:27:42It always has been our school.
0:27:45 > 0:27:46I'll see you in the holidays.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53It's been a lifetime of education. Yeah, it has.
0:27:53 > 0:27:58Looking back it's gone fairly quickly, I suppose.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02But when I think back to that day when I sat on the table
0:28:02 > 0:28:05and said, at 11 years of age, "I'm going to be a teacher."
0:28:07 > 0:28:09But then experiencing what I experienced after that
0:28:09 > 0:28:13and then, all of a sudden, it happened for me.
0:28:15 > 0:28:16And I never looked back.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24# Give it one, two, three
0:28:24 > 0:28:28# We are the children of Goetre School
0:28:28 > 0:28:32# We take a pride in the things we do
0:28:32 > 0:28:36# Learning together and having fun
0:28:36 > 0:28:38# Who's for a good day?
0:28:38 > 0:28:40# EVERYONE!
0:28:40 > 0:28:42# Give it one Give it two
0:28:42 > 0:28:43# Give it one, two, three
0:28:43 > 0:28:45# Give it one Give it two
0:28:45 > 0:28:48- Bye. - # Give it one, two, three
0:28:48 > 0:28:52# We are the children of Goetre School
0:28:52 > 0:28:56# We take a pride in the things we do
0:28:56 > 0:29:00# Learning together and having fun
0:29:00 > 0:29:02# Who's for a good day?
0:29:02 > 0:29:03# EVERYONE! #