Episode 2 High School

SCHOOL BELL RINGS

High School follows a year in the life of Holyrood Secondary School.

This is crazy!

Can I get a group hug here?

Unbelievable.

Yes!

Showing the ups...

I've never seen happier children ever in my life.

..and downs...

My instincts just say punch him right in the mouth.

..the triumphs...

-Congratulations!

-Woo! Thank you very much.

..and the tears...

I feel such a gimp for crying.

..as they battle to keep standards high.

-Do you think that's the way to treat another person?

-No.

-No.

To keep the show on the road...

Now, now, come on, move, we're ready to start!

..and make it a successful year in one of Europe's biggest schools.

SHE SQUEALS

It's the start of the spring term at Holyrood

and the New Year has been one of the coldest and snowiest on record.

It's a lot worse than we thought today.

The forecasters said snow easing off but it's been snowing heavily all morning, so, a lot of new snow cover.

Makes better snowballs today, unfortunately.

Yesterday was a bit icy but today makes a good snowball.

So, we'll be on alert, we'll be on alert.

Come on, boys. Just leave the snow on the ground, it's quite happy there,

don't disturb it, OK?

Headmaster Tom tries to meet the kids every morning as they arrive,

and although he has one eye on potential snowball flare-ups,

his mind is really on one of his students, Max,

who is down in Oxford trying to get a place at uni.

We came back to really good news, in fact, he's being given an interview for University of Oxford.

Max is one of our very, very high achievers

and so Max's potential is to go to the very top level,

high-tariff university course and to go to Oxford

would be a terrific achievement for him and for the school too.

Head Boy, Max, already has five As at Higher but that won't be enough

to get an automatic place at Oxford and he's being interviewed

by two colleges to see if they will accept him next year.

He's hoping to be one of the few students from Holyrood to ever go to Oxford

and he's been blown away by what he's seen so far.

It's the number one uni in the UK.

There's nothing can really rival it, it's...it's just brilliant.

It's a great place, great people, great tutors.

You know you're being taught by the absolute best.

And it would just be fantastic to come here, fantastic.

Back at Holyrood, 1st Year Zoe has been off school since the start of the year

and has spent much of that time in Yorkhill Hospital for kids.

-How good's your French?

-Not bad.

-What can you say?

-Em, it's OK. I only know hello and goodbye.

-Say that.

-Bonjour and, no, how do you say hi?

-Bonjour.

-And, is it, au revoir?

-Au revoir, that's it, brilliant.

That'll be good enough for Mr McCormack, I think.

I'll come and get you at the start of period four, OK,

-and then we'll go along to Mr McCormack.

-OK.

-Fantastic.

-You're looking gorgeous as well.

-Thank you.

She's missed an awful lot of time since the beginning of term.

We've had sporadic attempts to get her into school

and then she's been off for long periods of time.

Today, she's in with quite a lot of cream on and things like that

but if that helps her and we can support her in whatever way we can, that's good.

We want her back in here full time, that's what we're aiming for,

but we're just taking it slowly. A day at a time, you know.

Zoe has serious allergies and a difficult skin condition,

which means she's spent most of her time in school isolated in the learning unit.

I'm allergic to nuts, eggs, peas, beans, lentils,

grass, pollen, animals, any animal.

Em, that's about it, really.

Quite a lot of allergies.

I'm not allowed to go into home economics

cos I'm allergic to, like, a lot of food

and I can't go into science cos we don't really know what they use,

so I might not be allowed it and I'm not allowed in technical because...

No, wait, is it not the one they use the wood or something?

I'm not allowed in that one either cos of dust

and don't know about gym right now cos... You know how people spray their deodorant and stuff?

Quite a lot of girls, so, em, that's really it, really.

I'm not allowed in a lot of classes, not all the fun ones, anyway.

With Head of First Year, Bernadette, by her side,

Zoe is about to properly join her classmates for the first time

in Holyrood and try to last a full lesson.

Have you been down this corridor before? No.

If her condition flares up,

she'll be straight back to Yorkhill Hospital.

-OK?

-Thanks, Mr McCormack. Enjoy, enjoy.

In the drama department, 5th Year Santino

is practising for his higher drama exam with fellow actor, Sarah.

It's a kiss scene and Santino has been struggling to hold it together,

especially in front of his friends.

Santino and Sarah have a lovely kiss scene.

It's quite touching and passionate.

Why would it no' be right? Mind when we had our own wee place?

Mind when we used to lie and used to rake down the coals?

HE CRIES

Aw.

EVERYONE LAUGHS

Well done, guys, well done, well done.

It went OK, except for Santino's concentration.

No, after the kiss I could just, I just saw Brian go like that.

When I turned to the side and I couldn't concentrate.

With more work needed on the kiss scene,

he'll have to break the news to his girlfriend, 4th Year, Victoria.

She's not seen it yet, so maybe that's the best way.

No, I want to see it.

-No, you don't.

-I do.

-It's an intense kiss.

-No, I want to see it.

-No, you don't.

-I do.

It might mean something. I mean...

-..she is a really nice girl.

-Oh, shut up.

Really get on well with her.

Santino and Victoria have been dating since he joined Holyrood

at the start of the year.

I was the new boy and I didn't really know where I was going

and she just kind of swooped in out of nowhere

and just kind of picked me up.

I didn't even know what's going on, I was just going along with it.

-She's my best pal.

-Awww.

I don't know cos I'm quite a...

It's like my other half, like, I'm kind of all mature and serious

and Victoria's all immature fun.

Despite the kiss scene, Santino and Victoria are smitten,

for now.

In Holyrood, Head of First Year, Bernadette,

already has a discipline situation to deal with.

The boy, Daniel, fuelled the fight yesterday by grabbing the girl's bag

and proceeding to empty the contents on the ground.

Laughing at her and shouting.

He also refused to leave the scene when I told him to go away.

-I laughed at her but I didn't do it.

-Mrs Porter's saying you did.

But even if you hadn't and you stood there and watched it

and laughed at her, that's absolutely shocking.

-Do you think that's the way to treat another person?

-No.

No, and all the hundreds of folk that gathered there yesterday

to film it and to laugh and to watch it, it's absolutely disgraceful.

Now, I'm going to phone your mum because I need to have a word with her about it,

as I think your involvement in this was shocking

and tonight I'm going to make you stay after school to do a detention.

I'm not having this, Daniel. Now, go to class, please.

At the end of the day I will see you outside the learning unit, do you understand?

Yes, Miss.

There was a fight after school yesterday.

One girl was waiting for another girl and a crowd had gathered,

obviously expecting a fight and the fight took place.

Daniel was there. He didn't help the situation.

I'm going to phone Daniel's mum now to tell her about his part in it

and that he will be remaining behind after school tonight as well.

Just can't accept that. It's just unacceptable behaviour.

Zoe's back in the learning unit,

but she's made it through her first lesson.

It was scary at first cos I've never seen a classroom.

I've looked in but people are looking at me

but you get scared cos you've never been in it before.

It's like when you're young, you're going into school for the first time,

it's like that.

But when I went in, everybody was nice to me

and they were all happy to see me

and some of my friends were in that class, they were all shouting

and I kept trying to keep myself still

cos know how when you're nervous your legs shake? I was trying to do that

and then after, like, five minutes I felt better,

so it was quite a good first experience, actually.

Zoe's made it through French

but her mum is worried that she doesn't do too much, too soon.

-Had a good day?

-Yeah.

'It's been a work in progress.'

And I just... It needs to sort of keep going as a work in progress

and I try to tell Zoe you can't run before you can walk.

She doesn't understand that.

I think she's starting to get the gist of it now.

So, it's been a major upheaval this week.

Good and bad because I've had to give her the responsibility.

She's done well so far, so I just hope she keeps it going

and it means that she can stay in school.

Fingers crossed with that one.

Zoe wants to get back into school full time.

But her condition might not allow her that chance.

1st Year Daniel is bucking the system at Holyrood

and Bernadette's warning, at the moment, seems to be water off a duck's back.

These two lassies were fighting and then her bag fell down

and I poured everything out and all of her stuff came out

and I've got in trouble for that.

How do you feel when you get in trouble?

Fine!

Daniel and his friend are skipping school,

called dogging it.

He gets in trouble for doing stupid stuff.

I don't have bad behaviour but I dog it.

Where do you go?

-EK and Silverburn and that, and town.

-EK.

You don't learn anything in school and it's boring

and you get in trouble anyway, so what's the point of coming in?

Daniel may be bucking the system, but Bernadette is determined

to change his behaviour this term, before things escalate.

It's morning, and the day after Zoe has tried to join her classmates,

Bernadette has some bad news.

Zoe's not in today because her allergies have flared up

and I think her skin's quite inflamed, so Mum decided to keep her off today.

We were hoping she could come in today and maybe stay a tiny wee bit longer here

but she'll come in tomorrow and hopefully she'll do a whole day.

Cos my skin was quite sore on my face,

I didn't go in cos it was getting quite sore.

It gets hot and I scratch a lot.

So it might have been last night, I don't know.

Cos it wasn't like that when I went to bed.

So, hopefully I can go in tomorrow for the whole day.

Battling her skin allergies is a full-time job for Zoe

and her mum, Lisa.

These are my moisturisers that I have to put on every day.

That's what I put in my bath and then that's like my steroids

if my skin's quite sore.

I would say, because Zoe with having so many allergies,

and if you're in a school with loads of kids

and the fact is that at the lunch hall, there's so many kids

and they can eat what they like,

if Zoe had to go into that environment, she could take a reaction.

So she is not allowed near the lunch hall.

She wants to be like everybody else and just fit in and the fact is

I've told her that she has to remember there are certain things she just can't do.

And I feel rotten that she can't wear make-up.

A lot of her pals are going out and wearing make-up

but I said to her, "You don't need it anyway."

Zoe has struggled with her skin condition since she was a baby.

That's Zoe when she was about three months old

with her bandages on.

That was on Christmas Eve when she was one

and she wanted to wear a pair of antlers.

And I didn't really like taking photos with her bandages on

because I'm thinking of looking at them when they're older,

you know, they're going to look back and see bandages.

It's a real blow for Zoe that she's off classes again

but now more than ever, she has set her heart on trying to do a full day at school.

Every year, a few hand-picked students raise money to go to Malawi

to build schools and work with local kids.

Although the man behind setting up the project,

Vice Head Tony Begley, has now left,

Tom is keen to make sure that Holyrood build on past successes

and today is the first round of selection

where the potential sixth-form candidates are interviewed.

I'm just preparing for my Malawi interview.

Quite nervous but I suppose you just need to go in and be yourself.

So I'm just kind of thinking of things I'm going to say

but there's no point in learning screeds of stuff you're going to say

cos it won't be natural.

Everyone's all, kind of, worked up trying to calm themselves down.

Sadia, Lorna, Michelle...

Gillian Mimnagh was appointed Deputy Head last term.

She went to Malawi last year and is on the selection panel.

I think what you find when you all go out to Malawi,

staff and pupils, is that it's a total leveller.

So, really, you're looking for somebody who can cope with that,

who can really be a member of a team but with bags of energy,

cos you certainly need it.

There is a huge fight amongst the sixth formers to get a place on the Malawi trip

and doing a good interview is key to being selected.

You really don't. You try not to but you do.

I'm actually really excited.

-I'm not even nervous, I'm actually quite excited.

-Why?

I don't know. I just have a feeling that I might get in

and that I'm going to go to Malawi very soon.

I'm really excited.

Last term, Sadia put herself forward as head girl.

The reason I'm dressed like this is because it's Eid.

But felt that her speech in front of her year let her chances down badly.

I just didn't say enough... Ah! Could actually punch myself for it.

Sadia and her two best friends, Maxine and Fariha, have all applied for Malawi

and are hoping they will all go out to Africa together.

So, we're going to give you three areas to discuss with us today.

It'll be no more than ten minutes, so, don't worry about it.

We'll want to find out what you'll bring as an individual to the team.

Miss Mimnagh will want to be convinced that you can balance the demands of your school work,

and finally, John'll want to be convinced that you really want to do this

and why do you want to do it. OK, does that seem to make sense?

Well, firstly I think I'm a very optimistic person.

For example, I've been working with Indy for almost four years now.

Daniel Mutombo? So they're truanting just now?

1st Year Daniel's head has risen above the parapet yet again.

He's just run away from his next class with some other boys.

Little boys who've been truanting recently are missing from maths,

missing from their class this period.

One of the other maths teachers has just caught him,

or tried to catch him, but in actual fact he's run away.

He's probably in the social area just now.

I have to go and find him.

Bernadette is losing patience with Daniel,

and so far, nothing seems to be working with him.

I'm going to have to bring Daniel's mum in because in spite of the fact

that he's been to attendance counsel, he's been put on a warning,

he continues to defy us and to truant from school.

So, things really have to move up a gear, I think,

because he's not cooperating at all.

You give him an attendance card to make sure that he's going to his classes and he's doing this, so...

It looks as if Bernadette might have found Daniel.

Where are you supposed to be?

Stop, stop, stop. Where are you supposed to be?

We've no teacher at all in the class.

-Where's your class?

-Craft and design.

-So why are you up here?

-Looking for a teacher.

Who's your teacher?

Right, go back down to Mr Skelton and ask him where your teacher should be.

OK?

With Daniel still at large, Bernadette decides to see

if his friend Kieron can throw any light on his whereabouts.

Good morning, Mr McCormack, could I have a wee word with Kieron, please?

So, who were you with?

-Eh, James.

-James and Daniel?

-Aye.

Good. And where did they all scarper to?

-I don't know.

-And how come, you got caught?

No, I was, I was coming, I walked down that way, I thought,

I thought Mr McCormack's class was over there.

-Right, so you were going to class and the other boys ran away?

-Aye.

You did the right thing because they're going to be in big trouble when I find them.

OK. Right, thank you, Kieron.

In you go.

Bye, Mr McCormack. Thank you.

Right, I'll go down these stairs here.

Bernadette needs to find Daniel and convince him to change his ways

before his behaviour creates serious problems for himself and his family.

So, I think it's something to give me... It'll make me realise

just how important life really is and how importantly I should take it

and how to appreciate everything that I do have.

Thank you. We'll spend some time seeing many more of your friends,

until later on today, and we'll let you know later this week.

-Good luck and thank you.

-Thank you.

I just felt like I was, for once, able to pour my heart out,

they actually were listening to what I had to say.

A lot of teachers like interrupting in interviews but they didn't.

They let me free and let me talk about everything I wanted to say.

So, yes, I'm happy. I'm really excited now.

I'm so nervous.

Well, as an individual I would say I'm quite bubbly, loving, caring

and, like, I don't know what it is but when kids come across

I'm just really loving and kids, sort of, tend to love me too.

Fariha is the last of the three friends into the interview.

I really wanted to go ever since I came to this school.

The first time I heard about it, I've always wanted to go.

I'm really hoping I don't get dropped.

Maxine, thank you for coming along today, very convincing indeed.

OK, thanks, Maxine.

She had a, I suppose, a unique insight in that she is Zimbabwean,

you know, an African herself, and she was able uniquely to share the fact

that she wants to go back to Africa, and having seen the deprivation

in her own country, make a difference in a similar country.

I think it might mean more to me than anybody else

because I've seen it all happen before and I know how people feel.

So, it's like a, sort of, personal achievement, I'd call it.

Maxine feels she has done well

and now it's the last of the three friends, Fariha, who has to impress.

If no-one else was willing to, I'd step up and be a leader

and I can also... I wouldn't mind being told what to do.

-I wouldn't mind being a team worker as well.

-Right, OK.

And, er... I just feel like, er...

OK, thanks for that.

Bernadette has finally tracked Daniel down.

When did you get to your last class?

-I arrived on time.

-You couldn't possibly have. Miss O'Reilly says

you didn't arrive on time. She said you ran away.

I have been all over the school, looking for you.

Remember the other morning when I asked you about your late coming?

-You told me that you had slept in.

-I only slept in on first period.

No, that wasn't true. That wasn't true.

You didn't sleep in. You truanted from class.

You were hiding in the art corridor, correct?

-No, I wasn't...

-No, I'm sorry, you were.

I cannot have you truanting from school, Daniel.

Your mum can't have you truanting from school,

because she could be in big trouble.

I'm not happy about that at all. Not happy at all.

Do you understand me? Any more of that today, I'll send you home

and you'll come back in with your mum so we can have a chat.

Do you understand? I want to see that card lunchtime and at the end

of the school day today, Daniel. Come to me at the end of the day

before you go home. I'll decide whether or not your mum has to come in tomorrow morning. Understand?

-I'm not happy at all.

-But, Miss...

I don't think you're being truthful.

Make sure you're in your classes immediately. Do you understand?

-Yes.

-Thank you. Go back to class now.

I've asked him to come back and see me at lunchtime

and after school. I'm going to check his card very, very carefully.

Daniel unfortunately tells lies about where he's been

and what he's doing, so we really have to monitor him very closely.

Max is back from the Oxford interviews

and Tom is keen to see how well he thinks he's done.

So you went from a comprehensive school,

Glasgow inner-city school.

I saw a guy with a three-piece suit.

You know, he had the shirt, tie and waistcoat

and I was going to my interviews in my jeans

and my T-shirt and trainers

because I thought there was no point in turning up...

I'm going as a student, so I'll dress as a student

and not in my school uniform or something.

Did you feel more or less confident than before you went down?

It's a hard one, because you do meet so many people there who...

and I should expect it,

who are so intelligent and so good, obviously.

Well, good luck, Max. We'll hear how things go.

Yeah, no bother. See you then.

'I'm impressed about the fact'

he went down there feeling confident, in no way inferior.

You know, coming from a...

I suppose a Scottish, Glasgow comprehensive school.

He has the intellect to know that there are those there who are from,

you know, a background of privilege and so on.

You know, the Etons and the public schools,

but I think Max Graham would make a fantastic student for them.

Max now has to wait to see if he has received an offer from Oxford

and back at home, a letter has arrived

from his first choice college.

We have to pass vital exams in an uncertain future...

Santino isn't just into drama... and Victoria.

He's also just got through to the final of a Glasgow schools

public-speaking competition.

With the big day looming, he's practising his speech

over lunch with Bob Oliver,

the English teacher who's been encouraging him.

..and policing your streets.

There we go, perfect. We'll do a timer next.

I'm feeling pretty nervous, actually,

more than anything else.

I suppose if you're not nervous, there's something wrong with you.

Ready?

Five, four, three, two, one...go.

Santino is the only student who's got through from Holyrood

and most of his competitors are from Glasgow's top fee-paying schools.

As Mark Twain once joked,

AMERICAN ACCENT: "When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant,

"I could hardly stand to have the old man around.

"But when I got to be 21,

"I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years."

Thank you.

-Was that short?

-Hm?

-Is it not supposed to be five minutes?

You got four minutes 29. Play around with that over the weekend.

I don't know why I put on that American accent there at the end.

No, it works, it works.

See you later.

'Yeah, it was good.'

I was quite happy with that, actually. Thinking about it,

I'm feeling more confident than I did going into the first heats,

so it should be exciting. I'm quite happy with that.

He's impressive. So on the night, we'll just have to see.

As long as he doesn't get too worked up about it.

Santino needs to memorise his speech before he takes on the best

that Glasgow's other schools can throw at him.

Take those nails off the end there.

Just put them on the floor.

Tonight is the school fashion show

and the hopeful Malawi candidates are all helping and taking part.

It is a big deal, but I think for 6th year it's a bigger deal

because a lot of people don't get the chance till 6th year

and all the pictures are going to be in the Year Book and everything.

It is a big deal, I suppose. It's like everybody gets so hyped up

and excited about it. I'm excited!

The fashion show is a big fund-raising day at Holyrood.

Head of 5th Year, Margaret Leyden, is the organiser

and she is hoping to raise over £1,000.

It's the first time they'll have been on the catwalk

and that's daunting cos it's quite high

and they don't really realise it's that high.

INTERVIEWER: How stressed are you feeling?

Probably Spider-Woman comes in, I'm halfway up a wall

but it's all right, it'll be all right on the night.

Fingers crossed!

Sometimes it's a hard job in schools

when you hear about children who maybe have difficulties

and you're trying to help them

and you feel as if you're battering your head off a brick wall.

But things like this just bring it all to life

and the kids are fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.

Everyone's been roped into tonight's show,

including three Beyonce lookalikes.

Gillian Beyonce,

Terry Beyonce and Bernadette Beyonce.

We are doing a little dance to Single Ladies by Beyonce.

And we've been Beyonce-fied, obviously!

Terry McIntosh always steals the show,

which we're totally happy with. So she's front and centre,

we'll just stand at the back.

O'Shea's very good. Very good.

But Mimnagh, Mimnagh's struggling. Struggling.

It's a nightmare. So embarrassed, quite frankly.

As long as I don't fall, I'm fine.

Gillian has even invited her cousin, Miss UK, to make an appearance.

This is Nicola. She's my wee cousin and she's also Miss UK.

Cos we do the fashion show every year,

I thought I would ask her to come along and she agreed

out of her busy schedule, so it's really good.

This is crazy!

Well, this is the crucial point.

Everything starts at one point.

We've got so many people to get dressed.

Hey, this is all part of it.

A letter has arrived from Oxford University for Max.

He's applied to two colleges there

and has set his heart on going next year.

It's like getting my exam results all over again.

Mum and Dad are just coming back from work.

I phoned them when I found it was here.

My mum always says, "What's for you won't go by you."

So, you know, I just say that I would agree with that.

Oh, God! I think I've tried to get all my reactions.

I'll cry if you don't get in, I'll cry if you do.

Let's get it over and done with.

No.

Oh.

Never mind, OK.

Oh, I'm still under consideration by another college.

Max has failed to get a place at Magdalen College

but still has another chance with Pembroke College.

Magdalen was where I'd wanted to go.

But if I get another one from another college,

then it doesn't really matter. Oxford's Oxford.

We'll just have to wait and see now.

I'm really disappointed for him. Really disappointed.

Now! Now! Now! Come on, move! We're ready to start!

Miss can be so moany, but she means well.

The fashion show has just started

and Margaret is just about keeping all the balls in the air

and all the girls on the stage.

Most of the Malawi hopefuls are taking part,

as well as a Beyonce tribute act.

MUSIC: "Single Ladies" by Beyonce

I'm so scared now!

I think I'm actually more nervous doing this

than doing actual fashion shows.

CHEERING

Put your hands together for the Single Ladies!

It was good. Good fun.

Never again! For one year only, for one year only.

The fashion show has raised more money than ever before.

With the added bonus of Miss UK, the night is only topped

by a purple-suited Tom leading the final song.

MUSIC: "Is This The Way To Amarillo" by Tony Christie

Later on in the spring term,

an unfamiliar face is back at Holyrood.

Zoe is determined to try for a full day in school.

-So have I to wait here till the teacher comes?

-Yeah.

'Today, Zoe's going to be with us for the full day,

so this is the longest period of time she's spent in school

since lst year. So, really good. I'm delighted about that.

Her skin's a wee bit sore, but she wants to stay in the full day.

I'm going to be round about and I'll come back up and see her.

She's got a phone so she can text me. We'll just see what happens.

I've got English, art, technical,

French and maths. But I can't do those two,

So I've to stay in for the whole day, but I can't do those two.

I actually don't know what it's like to actually be in for the whole day,

but I'll try my hardest to stay in.

She's as bright as a wee button and she's very determined

to go to her classes and participate as much as she can.

I'm sure she'll make it to the end of the day.

If she can last the full day at school,

this will be a massive step forward for Zoe.

Thank you all for applying and your interest in Malawi.

-I'm sure you've been very moved by what you've seen.

-ALL: Yes.

Every year, a handful of places in the Malawi team are offered

to 5th year students. Only the best get to go,

as the trip is physically and mentally tough

and a huge amount for a 16 or 17-year-old to cope with.

First of all, I want to say well done...

5th years Lauren and Ross have both set their heart on going,

despite a huge work load as they have Highers next term.

If I go, would be a great experience for myself if I got it.

So, yeah, would be good.

I feel quite confident that we've got pointers and that,

but it's probably just about going home and preparing for it.

If you don't prepare, you'll just be all over the place.

-Aye, and you'll be mumbling...

-It might affect you.

It wasn't actually scary, it's just the waiting for it.

They're really nice on the panel,

-not just kind of sitting...

-Staring at you.

I'll probably end up stuttering anyway.

I'll be shaking. My knees will be shaking.

4th Year Bernice is one step away

from being asked to leave Holyrood next year.

You coming in, aye?

'I've been struggling a bit with school.'

I'd been put in halfway through term and there was classes

I didn't know anything about.

New teachers, new people. I was, like, lost basically.

I started kind of, you know,

dragging a bit in classes

and not knowing what I was doing, so I was kind of struggling.

I'd leave and sit in the toilets sometimes, like myself.

I didn't want to go into the classes,

so that was making it worse, obviously.

And my attendance just kept getting lower and lower.

Bernice is one person whom we assumed would be leaving school,

given her lack of attendance which was quite deplorable.

Her lack of commitment, her lack of progress...

I mean, the judgment was... and it was sound advice from her

pastoral care staff and year head,

that she'd be best advised to leave school.

We've now looked at it again. I've spoken to Bernice

and her mum and listened to them carefully about her ambitions

and her aspirations,

and it is not too late for Bernice, you know.

But this is the crucial watershed time for her.

Bernice has been given a last chance to stay by Tom,

but she needs to take it or she will be asked to leave for good.

Zoe was hoping to make it through a full day at Holyrood,

but her mum's not sure if she's done it.

She's waiting anxiously to hear how she got on.

This is the first time she's had to come out herself,

so I don't know. I don't know how she'll be.

And Zoe's determination has paid off...

..as she leaves with all of her classmates.

-All right? How did you get on?

-Fine.

'This is the first time that Zoe has spent a full day in school.'

It's a huge step because Zoe hasn't spent much time in school this year.

We started off bringing her in for half a day

or even two or three periods at a time.

We increased that and now today, she's been here for the whole day.

I'm hoping having done one full day, she'll maybe do a couple next week

just before the end of term.

And we can pick that up again after the holidays.

She's done well and the fact that she lasted until three o'clock.

A lot of people didn't think she was going to last, so...

She's kidding on she's no' tired, but she is really.

I just really want to walk down the hill.

Zoe has made it through a full day

and is already aiming for a full week at Holyrood.

It's the night of 5th Year Santino's speech competition.

It's being held in Glasgow City Chambers

and his whole family and 4th Year girlfriend Victoria

have all turned up to lend their support

as he takes on the competition.

I think he'll do well. I don't know if he'll win it,

but he'll do pretty well.

-It's great.

-I'm very excited. A wee bit nervous for him,

-but I think he'll be OK.

-I'd say he's got a very strong chance.

Eight out of ten, perhaps.

I'm just worried that I kind of... I get a bit too nervous

and I start to look at my notes more than I should be.

But I definitely know it, more or less.

It's just making sure I keep the nerves under control.

Nerves are good, but not too much.

APPLAUSE

It is a real pleasure for me this evening

to formally open

the Glasgow Speakers' Club Annual Speaking Competition.

Santino is putting the final touches to his speech

in the only place he can get some privacy.

Is this not...? Is this not the uncivilised split

against young peoples' civil liberties?

..and we now take our democracy so much for granted,

that we really just don't care who governs us.

As Mark Twain once wrote,

"When I was a boy of 15... 15, my father was so ignorant,

"I was just... I could hardly stand to have the old man around."

Real democracy in action,

and isn't it beautiful?

We CAN make a difference.

APPLAUSE

With the other students all having had their turn,

it's Santino's moment to shine.

Do not forget that we are the ones

who'll be answering your call centre phones, nursing you,

paying the taxes and policing your streets.

Why should everybody...?

Young people...

"But when I got to be 21, I was astonished

"at how much he had learned in seven years."

Thank you.

APPLAUSE

They were all very, very good.

Every speaker, so we'll just have to see.

Everyone seems really impressed, but I guess they've got to say that.

But it seems really good. Everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Victoria, who's not usually...

You know, she's hard to impress.

Proud of him. He did well. Very good.

This is my wee cousin, Francesco.

INTERVIEWER: What do you think of him?

He was very good. I think he should win.

I'm not biased because I don't like him that much,

but I thought he was very good.

Santino's cousin may think he should win,

but they will both have to wait for the official verdict.

Back in the Gorbals, Bernice lives with her two sisters and her mum,

who was shocked to hear she'd been lying to her and skipping school.

She was quiet, withdrawn.

"How was school?" "Yeah, great."

And I knew, with a one-word answer, there was something

that wasn't coming true.

You know, there was something more, something hidden.

I started investigating, trying to find out what was going on.

She was taking days off and, you know, visiting the old school,

going back up to see pals.

Bernice joined Holyrood last year after moving schools.

But ever since, has struggled to settle in.

They were just like, "Oh, it doesn't matter.

"I've been to the attendance counsels and all that.

"It's nothing, they don't go to court.

"They're just saying it to scare you."

So I was like, "Oh, I'm not as worried now.

"I feel better. I don't have anything to worry about.

"Don't worry, you're not going to get caught really."

I'd come in, Mum would be like, "Hi, how was school?"

And I'm like, "Yeah, it was good, it was good, uh-huh.

"I had a good day."

And then straight up to my bed,

up to my room to sit in here. I was like, "What if she knows and she's not telling me?

"She's waiting to see if I'm lying and stuff."

It would just go round and round in my head.

I kind of learned, you know,

I learned how to lie, basically.

It feels horrible saying that, actually!

I was devastated, as a mother.

Do you know, I've been through every emotion with Bernice

and I don't hide my emotions with her.

You know, she saw me cry with sheer frustration.

"I don't know what else to do, Bernice."

I went and spoke to Mr McDonald.

He then worked with me

and we came up with the plan

that we would give her this final chance to prove herself.

He's my best buddy now, honestly. He was just great.

He just pulled me right out of the hole I was in, I think.

And I think he gave me the push I needed to start working

and start getting in to school

and just ignore people that are going away to dog it.

Bernice made a couple of bad choices.

Let's hope that's the last bad choices she's made.

Em, she's a bright girl. She is capable of it.

She's got a natural ability and she will do well,

because I'll be there every step of the way.

The next few months are crucial for Bernice.

If her attendance drops again,

she will be forced to leave Holyrood without any qualifications.

APPLAUSE

Mr Chairman. Distinguished guests. Ladies and Gentlemen...

Now it's the moment of truth for Santino.

Our winner for the speakers contest is Rory Elrick.

APPLAUSE

This time, Santino hasn't won first place

and although he spoke well, he'll have to try again next year.

A bit disappointed but it was a good experience overall, so I was quite pleased.

Gutted for him. But he did very well, did his best.

He should have won, but...

It's a, it's a travesty. It's a farce.

I'm appealing this decision. HE LAUGHS

Malawi hopeful, Lauren, lives with her mum and dad in Govanhill.

This is basically my life on a wall, right. This is just like...

Right, I'll start, there's blocks, this is Katy Perry.

She's stunning, she's brilliant, hilarious as well.

This is Sean's little bit. Sean's the boyfriend.

This is the bit where it's funny people. Lady Gaga falling in the airport.

That's fat Gemma from The Only Way Is Essex working out, I thought that was hilarious.

She's desperate to be one of the chosen few 5th Years going on the trip

and is getting ready for the interviews tomorrow.

I want to, this sounds really weird, but I just want to like travel

and do so many things and stuff.

And just like go around and just see everything.

I even want to go to India. You know how they eat food on the floor and stuff?

I want to do all that, be so good.

There's actually a list on my wall of the things I want to do and "go to Malawi" is on the wall.

I definitely want to see all the world.

I want to experience all the world. All the different cultures and meet new people.

I love meeting new people, making new friends.

My last one's "never grow up". Nobody wants to grow up, it sucks,

being 40 and you've got three friends and two cats.

Lauren has to impress at tomorrow's Malawi interview,

or her dreams will have to stay as a list on her wall,

rather than a reality.

By the second part of the spring term, the snow may have gone,

but Daniel is still at Bernadette's door every day on an attendance card.

You can get a green one, that's for dogging

and you get a yellow one for behaviour.

I give it to all my teachers, they see if I've been in class.

I have to go to Mrs O'Shea every morning to get one.

At the end of the day, you have to go give it to Mrs O'Shea to sign it.

I don't. I go home straight away.

Bernadette has been working closely with pastoral teacher Robert

to get Daniel back on track.

The plan was that this week we would, you know,

all the children carrying cards, if they did really well,

we'd take them off the cards next week when we're only in school for three days.

We'll think about it and see what we can do.

He's been much better than he was in the last month. He's been here pretty much every day.

I think certainly better than at the start of the year,

when he was in and out like a yo-yo.

He seems to have settled. It must be Robert's good influence on him.

I'm not sure how many we'll take from 5th Year yet.

They'll be a whole balanced team and so on, so...

Lauren is first in to the 5th Year Malawi interviews.

There are so many people that have applied for it, so if we get picked

it means they've taken an interest to you, but I am nervous. My palms are pure sweating.

LAUGHS Hi, Miss.

What would Lauren bring to the Malawi team for 2011?

I'm a good team leader but I know how to go about it in the right ways

and I know to listen to people and I can be there for them,

if someone was struggling and homesick, I could comfort them.

Sorry, I'm really nervous... My throat's pure dry.

5th Year Ross is next in.

The main thing is, just any situation, just stay calm,

because if you don't stay calm then you start working up your body

and that makes you start shaking and nervous, so relax at all times.

-Lauren, thanks again for coming along.

-Thanks very much.

-OK, well done.

-Thanks for your time.

-Lauren was really herself.

-She has a big personality. Great sense of fun.

-"Totally"!

"Totally" great personality, Lauren has.

She has, you see Lauren in, around the school. You can always hear Lauren before you see her.

I think it went well and I'm pleased with it.

I'm glad I didn't go home and structure and rehearse it.

I think it would've brought me down when I was just myself, so I think that came across well.

It would be a lifetime ambition for me to take on

and makes me want to strive to try and get into the team.

I can take so much away from being in the Malawi team and I can bring a lot to it.

-So, em, just need to strive to it and it'll self-motivate me.

-Thank you.

I thought that went well.

I thought he would maybe come over a bit better at interview.

I think he sold himself short a bit,

but he still had a very good interview, let's not get away from that.

It's all down to them to pick a team for the Malawi 2011.

Fingers crossed that I'm in it.

I think I've done what I can. Tried my best in interview. So, yeah.

It's very interesting that at this level,

what's come through to us, S5 and S6, is that the boys are less equipped

to present themselves well at interview

and maybe that's an indication for us, we've got a bit of work to do with the boys in there.

The girls are more readily confident, communicative

and what is it with the boys? You know...

-That goes on through life, of course.

-Well maybe so, that's right.

-These two kind of go together.

-They're friends, right, OK...

The kids going for Malawi will have to wait until tomorrow

-to see if they have been successful.

-THEY CONFER

Bernice has to report to Tom every day to make sure she is on track.

-Go to all your classes today, yes, no problem?

-Yes.

This morning I was a little late but I went up and got my...

-Why were you late?

-Had to get something sorted with my dad.

-Not been tempted to dog off school again?

-Not at all, no.

-Thanks, sir.

-OK, see you tomorrow.

-OK, see you tomorrow.

Speak to you later on then, bye-bye.

We want Bernice to really take, I suppose, responsibility herself, for her own actions

and to take responsibility for her own attendance.

She's in school, attending school,

realising it's not excuses to not be in school at all.

And she'll be here, committed, and be working really hard.

I think she's doing that already. I think she's doing that.

What Tom doesn't yet know, though,

is that she is way behind in crucial exam course work.

Daniel looked like a tough nut to crack,

but is now talking about wanting to stay at Holyrood.

-It's been about a month since I've dogged it.

-You dogged it about two weeks, two days ago.

But I just don't like dogging it any more.

I need to change school if I dog it again.

It seems his attitude towards school may slowly be changing.

Another letter has arrived for Max, from Pembroke College

at Oxford University.

It's Max's last chance of fulfilling his university dream.

Well, we've got a second envelope in from Pembroke College now,

so we're keeping our fingers crossed he might get offered a place there.

Mm, moment of truth.

Open the letter, hurry up. Just be done with it.

LAUGHS Yeah, I got a place.

-Oh, well done, you.

-APPLAUSE

-Oh, I'm so relieved.

-Oh, I'm so pleased for you. I'm so pleased for you.

Oh, I'm so pleased.

I'm just, I'm really, really pleased for him.

I felt he deserved to get offered a place.

So I'm just really pleased for him, cos he's worked really hard for it.

So, I'm over the moon.

I'm really pleased to know that I've got that,

the opportunity there for me, so...

It's just a massive relief.

Bernice has been called to see Tom, as he has now heard

that she has fallen behind with crucial course work.

If Bernice doesn't pull her socks up,

there'll be nothing to be gained by returning to senior school for her.

She really will have, I suppose, made a decision that academic life is not for her.

So she's got to get the attitude in mind

that no matter what she does, she needs to commit herself fully.

Miss Belton told me you hadn't done folio pieces,

so what have you done now?

I have completed my conveying information

and the short story and the poem by Ted Hughes as well.

So it's all complete.

So you've hardly been on time many days, have you?

So we've got you in school, got you committed,

got you doing your work again. Next stage is, get here in time.

OK, make sure Miss Belton gets those, Bernice.

She'll be delighted to receive them. Well done. Proud of you, well done.

-That's really good. Right, thank you. See you later on.

-Bye.

'I'm just glad that it's done now.'

My teacher was like, "Well done. At least it's in on time.

"You're not going away without a mark for English

"at the end of the day." That's... Oh, I feel brilliant now.

What I'm encouraged by, her teachers tell me that with Bernice,

it's not too late. Now, that's unusual.

At this stage, it would often be too late. We'd have lost her.

But given her undoubted native wit which she has,

inherent intelligence and intellect,

she has potential to get there. So there's still a danger with Bernice,

there's still a danger she may well simply give up and slide back again.

I hope not, but I think that's still there.

It has been a full three weeks since Zoe has missed a day at school.

Bernadette is delighted with her progress.

Zoe's the kind of wee girl that every time she comes in,

she's really glad to be here. She wants to be in her classes.

We feel it's going really well, you know.

We just want her here full time now. She's been here part time

for quite a considerable period of time now.

We want her to be here all day now. She's a great wee girl.

Having made huge progress in the last few weeks,

Zoe has fulfilled her dream

of becoming a full-time Holyrood pupil.

With exams looming, Santino is busy and Victoria has some news.

Yeah, so we've split up now.

It happened yesterday at lunch. We were just walking.

We'd talked about it the night before

and we decided that was it.

It'd ran its course. Finished.

-I'm back on the...

-The market.

-Back on the market.

Interviewer: You're friends, though?

Yeah, let's call it friends.

Yeah, he'll come back to me. That'll happen.

Just kidding!

Don't show him that!

He probably will, but.

Yeah. It'll happen again.

Max may have had an offer from Oxford,

but he's having second thoughts

and is now thinking about going to St Andrews University instead.

Oxford, I just think might be a bit of a risk.

I mean, I'm sure I'd find it interesting and everything,

but I don't think there's any point in going there for the sake of it,

when I know that I'm really going to love the international relations

at St Andrews.

Money and everything else aside, you know,

it's probably going to cost about 15 grand a year

to go to Oxford. At St Andrews, I just have my accommodation costs.

So, I just think it's looking...

St Andrews is looking the best option.

At the start of the term,

Daniel's behaviour was giving Bernadette real worries.

He looked as if he might be changing.

But has a term of support and monitoring

really made any difference?

Have a seat.

The difference between Daniel Mutombo

three or four months ago and now

is incredible and a big difference.

At the start of the year and throughout the course of the year,

Daniel had been missing from some of his classes.

We pursued him quite a bit with regard to that.

We gave him a support card. We had meetings with him.

We eventually brought him to the attendance counsellor with his mum

because it had become quite a worry for us.

However, he seems to be back on track now.

I think he's learnt his lesson. He knows we're watching him, we're monitoring him

and that we will take action if he decides to go off the rails again.

Maybe he'll get fed up with us being on his back all the time

and decide it's a better option to be in school, hopefully!

If I truanted again, I wouldn't be allowed to go out after school,

so it would be rubbish.

I wouldn't get to see my friends and stuff

and go out on my own at weekends. So it's better now.

At first, I was like, "Don't care!"

Just...just sit around and do nothing,

but now I want to try my hardest.

Thanks to everyone concerned. You've been absolutely magnificent.

There was not a bad interview. Not a single bad interview.

I'm going to give you a letter individually.

It's the moment of truth for the hopeful Malawi candidates.

For most of the 6th Year, this will be the crowning achievement

of their education, and nerves are running high.

I've got 5th Year first of all. Marie Gallagher. Where's Marie?

Ross, Ryan...

Hm.

Nah.

Same as you. Unsuccessful.

Take it on the chin, move on.

I got through.

Bit overwhelmed and a bit sweaty.

LAUGHTER

I got in, so I'm going to start crying.

I don't want to open it, I don't know.

I don't know what to feel.

Oh, I got in. I got in.

Loads of my pals as well. I'm so pleased.

My mum's not even answering her phone.

So I need to go up the road and tell her.

I'm actually petrified right now.

SHE SQUEALS

Oh, my God!

Basically, I opened my letter and I was like, "Oh, my God.

"I haven't got in." And then I saw the, "I am pleased to inform you..."

And I died a little bit inside with excitement. I am actually so happy,

but it's sad for people that never got through. I feel bad for them.

INTERVIEWER: What's happened?

'Fariha's not got through and I can tell it's breaking her heart.'

She thought it was going to happen.

We all had our hopes up for her and it's an actual complete gutter

that she's not got through. She really deserved it.

Troops, can I get a group hug here? Can I get a group hug? I'm so happy.

See the captain thing? It's nothing compared to what I feel right now.

It's... This is going to change my life, it really is.

Next time at Holyrood...

So far, Bernice hasn't shown.

Tom's faith in Bernice hangs in the balance as he waits for her

to turn up for her first exam.

She should be here, but I can't see her anywhere.

The school show takes its toll on Terri.

Are both the spots on? Put the spots on! Put the spots on!

Student teacher Cheryl takes the reigns

and prepares for her final exam.

If you're not good at getting up and doing that, you can't have it yet.

This is the last one.

The Malawi team leave their parents behind...

I feel like such a gimp for crying.

..and arrive in Africa to a huge welcome.

It's unbelievable!

Lauren gets the chance to eat like the locals in Africa.

Do you eat the claws and stuff as well?

And all the kids are tested physically and emotionally...

They are so amazing people. It's just so sad.

..as the team rush to reach their goals...

These bricks make it slightly harder to get a flat, straight wall.

..try to make a difference.

These children deserve better and we'll give them better.

..and all make it safely back to Glasgow

to finish the year on a high.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd