Original subtitles

Amy, I'm sorry.

I'm just sat here, the same clothes as yesterday, just thinking, why bother?

know, I've not done any of the work I said I would.

Not a thing.

I don't care.

I haven't for a while now, because this job isn't right.

It's just too much. It's just awful being a teacher, and the day's a number

the school.

They just are.

Then what do we do?

What do we have left after the job has just bled and dried all our energy? I

thought I could get by until the bare minimum, but... Just hold on tight and

retire in 20 years, but it's too much.

That's no way to live. So, I'm not coming in again.

I can't.

I'm not the right person to be a teacher.

I quit.

Morning. Oh, hey, Meg.

Photocopier's knackered again.

I saw it.

Can you check Drew's computer for lesson plan? He doesn't put anything on shared

drive. That is his login.

Is he off then?

He quit.

No.

Seriously, today?

Yeah, today.

Well, what are we going to do? We haven't got enough people.

Well, we always do.

Get on with it.

It's a power play.

Quitting the morning of an after inspection.

Well, I did say this would happen.

I mean, he's been doing very little for a very long time.

I can't get you extra cover.

We're down three already, plus next to no support staff.

Yeah, that's a thick list right now.

You get one general supply teacher.

Oh, will they have an English degree?

I'm sure there'll be a voracious reader.

You're going to have to talk to Ofsted for the department. You're the assistant

head. You're the only one that can. Yeah, because it's an inexperienced

department full of ECTs. Yeah, not my fault.

Where is Abel Andy?

Yeah, I think he's doing another PowerPoint, because that'll help.

None of this is ideal. Just do what you can with Ofsted.

I'm going to be honest with him about Drew, so you don't need to perform

miracles.

You know he's prepped nothing for inspection?

Like, at all?

Christ, well...

I'm not going to be that honest.

We just need to get through this.

Great. The copier I have just fixed is broken again.

Yes, it's wonky, by the way.

Found a mathematician in the office. Shall we keep him?

No, he doesn't read enough. Just looks up puzzle books.

Is that for me? It is, but I'm regretting it now.

Thank you.

Oh, that's very sweet.

I'm cute, aren't I?

Basically, in the wedding vows, I said I'd bring her a cup of tea before work

each morning. So, I'm going to leave you two here. Have a lovely day.

Have you told them?

Oh, I haven't told them what? What's the goss? What's the sitch?

Drew went heads quick.

What, on after that day?

Of course she has.

Why wouldn't you?

I mean, you have been saying you could go at any point, haven't you?

I have, haven't I? Thank you. You're welcome.

OK, right, I am actually going to have to go. All right, love you. Bye, have a

nice day.

What? I've locked Andrew's computer and there's nothing useful on it. No cover,

lesson plans, nothing.

All right, we'll put some plans together.

But no one's got any time.

What about Lewis, the new trainee? You could get him to copy and paste some

bits. I can't, Meg. I need him for something else.

I've not done a full lesson yet.

Well, no, I'll be with you, sort of.

Aren't you teaching another class at the same time?

Yeah, that's the sort of bit. Hey, Jan, what's up?

Claire Parkinson.

Gosh.

All right, can I change of plan?

You are going to start both lessons.

Both?

Make your hat off, earrings out. Guys, remember it's assembly. McGreevy, making

your way down, please.

Headphones away, phones away, and correct uniform on. We will be checking.

Amy, I'm sorry, miss.

A little bit. Take a minute, all right? Go back to the office, look at the

lesson plan, the resources, the standard requirements.

I've got this, all right?

Pretty off!

Hey, Jan. Sorry, love.

I want to get away from the offstage like that.

Yeah, doesn't matter. The offstage gets around and he's the big boss.

So, um, I put Claire Parkinson's dad away and into the office, but please,

yourself.

I'm sorry.

Thanks, Jan.

Good luck.

So it's just you, yeah?

Because I have to see the head teacher and the head of English.

No, I understand.

I'm sure the head is on his way.

The head of English, however, isn't in.

Yeah.

Okay.

Yeah, well, I don't think I'd come in either.

Michael shouldn't have to come to school and have language like that.

He'll get it by a teacher.

No, I completely agree. It is unacceptable and I promise you there

full investigation. No, I don't want an investigation, love. I want him gone

now. I promise you he will not be teaching here again, OK? The school are

to take this very seriously.

They can't be taking it that seriously. Where's the headteacher?

We've got a lot going on today. There is Ofsted coming out. Oh, so this isn't

taking priority at that hour, is it? No, of course it isn't. You know what? This

place is a mess from top to bottom. Even the homework Claire gets is crap. It's

easy.

She says there's not even proper teachers in her class at half the time.

teachers matter?

Of course they do.

I am investing in this place.

I want you, I want you to do well. I want my daughter to have the best.

You have my word. No,

no, look, Claire is a fantastic student, but I need to be teaching right now.

And that is how I can help give the students the best. So I'm really sorry,

I have to go.

Are you just getting in?

Sorry, ma 'am. Come on, this isn't like you. You live around the corner.

Hoodie off and pop your shoes on. Get to assembly.

Miss, can I...

Talk to her.

Um, not right now, no. But the class is later, yeah? You did great last week.

We can have a chat. Please be wearing proper uniform.

OK, Year 11.

Unseen poetry.

Got any questions to start?

Where's Mr Westead?

I'll lay.

Give you some more time on me, and then we'll go through it.

Just ask you a question, sir, don't be rude.

Phone's away now, please.

I've asked you to start.

Look at the whiteboard and follow it. Unseen poetry. You've all done it

Some of you've made a good start.

I just need you to... Sir, phone's away.

Don't be filming things.

Don't be filming me.

I'm not, dear. Oh, you don't say.

What's going on?

I just needed a minute.

Oh, well, you need to get back in there.

I, um... I let both classes in.

I haven't checked on yours for a little while.

All I did, he was feeling ill, but I think he was having me on. I've usually

a routine and stuff, but... All right, no, no, no, I'm sorry. I was late, all

right? But you can do this, OK? You can get it under control.

Make them pay attention.

All right?

All right, you're in, Evan. This is not an acceptable way to start class.

Bags away, sitting in our chairs properly, ready to learn.

Right, Mr. Westhead is off today, so Mr. Grantham will be talking you through

class.

I'll be popping in and out and I expect to see hard work, okay?

This is your GCSE.

Oh, the sound of enthusiasm.

Over to you, Mr. Grantham.

Okay, year 11.

Let's try again then, shall we?

Oh, the table.

Sit in your seat.

Your year 11, I expect better. Just because I'm late doesn't mean you can

scythe.

Right, unseen poetry.

Let's get cracking.

I don't know, Henry. Let's just assume that they are and have a good lesson,

shall we?

Have I got your report card?

Alex,

do you feel ill?

I'll take your silence as a no.

Who needs a pen?

Oh, my goodness me. You were year 11.

Bring your own pens in.

Yours are dead good, don't they?

Yeah, they're good because I buy them myself.

Penny's out.

And I want them all back by the end of class. You hear?

Henry?

I didn't do anything.

Henry, I just saw you.

I didn't do anything. You can't prove it. No, I don't need to prove anything.

literally just... That's enough of you, Oliver!

All right.

Will you film with me?

I'm willing.

I swear, miss, I'll take some looks. No, it's all right, Ben. It's all right.

Look, guys, settle down. I know this morning has been a bit odd, OK?

But you're a good group, and you should be working hard.

If you're not focused on tasks by the next time I come in, there's going to be

consequences. Do you understand?

Right.

Shout at them, isn't the answer?

All right, just focus on the lesson plan.

No more distractions.

Let's get focused.

Then they all started retching and I was like, are they all just going to bump,

hit? That's horrible, that.

I don't know, it's not horrible, is it?

No, he had toothpaste before school.

I'm sorry, what? He left two splits before school?

He wanted to be relaxed for Ofsted.

Spent the rest of the lesson cleaning, trying to talk about poems and... How

your morning?

Well, clearly not as bad as yours.

And I got a bit of... First lesson? Yeah.

How was it?

Awful.

And then OK.

I just think the kids, they were really hyped up.

But... I just started second -guessing everything I was saying, like, as I was

saying it.

But I don't even want to be getting out of special measures.

Oh, let's not even think about it, because if they've done maths, then

definitely doing English, and I'm doing all the opposite bollocks for the

department now.

What?

I just think it's mad.

It seems you've put everything on you.

Well, it's because of all the juice, though. Oh, that's right. Even if Drew

still here, you'd still be doing all this stuff anyway.

His dance wasn't fucked off. It just takes the piss.

I know, and you know I know, so... I'm just saying, look, this place, it annoys

me, OK?

It puts too much on me, and it definitely puts too much on you.

What use is it, me kicking off, hmm?

It is what it is. We just keep going.

I'll be glad when the day is done.

I mean, it really does look like the Nando spice jar.

Except there's ten things to fail on now rather than five. What utter bullshit.

What the hell is that?

Drew hasn't drawn any mark on any instance to start the year.

If I said see this, we're fucked.

Yeah, that's going to be the judgment. Fuck.

Jesus Christ.

Okay, okay.

Look, we just have to get through with it, all right? Mix them in with our

that have been marked.

We just get it done.

Your ma took the low offer on the chase.

Not to say appropriate.

Crap, miss.

You always say this, Elle, and it's never true.

Okay, you have Pip meeting Magwitch. What language choices do they have? Come

on.

Okay, so, well...

We thought that words like caught in stone were to do with pain.

So you might feel sorry for him because he's been through some stuff.

He's also scary because he growls like an animal at a pit.

See? Good stuff.

Focusing on language is good, all right, and the growl was a nice catch. Well

done. What I want everyone to do is really push our thinking when it comes

looking at... Excuse me.

Sorry, miss.

Where have you been, Callum?

I'm wrong. Just leave it, miss.

No, you do not get to walk into my class halfway through and act like it's my

fault. Way outside, please. No.

I'm going to be here.

Sit down, be quiet, and show me you're ready to learn.

Take your hoodie off. I've asked you once before already.

Yeah, when you do, Ben, you look like a little scruff.

Uh, Harvey, no, stop.

We've had a good lesson.

Harvey, stop. Over there.

Outside.

Outside. I just want to be in here. Just let me sit down. No, you are not

thinking straight. All right, you need to take a breath. Your behaviour.

Harvey, stop.

I will deal with Harvey. You have come in, disrupted my life. Tell me what I've

missed. Come on.

Come on, tell me what I've missed. Calm down.

I'm calm. I need to be in here. Let me be in here.

Right, you need to think, OK?

What choices?

Are you not listening?

Why are you fucking listening to me?

Helen. You are one step away from a phone call home. I know that's not what

want. Fuck off.

Fuck off.

I've come in for this. I want to do this.

Just let me sit down. I've come in for this. I want to do this.

I've gone into the behaviour unit. Out!

Are you all right, miss?

Back to it, everyone, please.

Miss, um... Harvey, you go to the behavioural unit, too.

You want a cuppa in case of suffering?

I'm all right, thanks.

Look, I'm sorry about before.

No. It's my fault. My head's been all over the place. I wasn't thinking

straight.

And I was late for the lesson.

I usually have a routine and stuff before a lesson, but I don't know, I

I got overwhelmed.

A job can do that.

I did well on my resilience module at uni.

Being here, though, it's something else.

No, I feel for you. This is a hard school to train at.

I mean...

A job's good when you start to see the kids develop in interesting ways or

understand new things, make sure that you're a good teacher.

But that takes time and we don't have that here.

You've just got to keep moving forward and get to the end of the day.

Teaching here is think or swim.

It just is.

You throw in the deep end and it's all swim.

It's on.

Hiya, it's me.

Leave me a message and I'll text you back.

Mum, I need you, please.

I don't know what I'm doing. Hello.

What are you doing?

You should be in behaviour unit with me, come on.

I want to talk to Mrs Gallison.

Look, you can't right now. Let's go.

Come on.

Think you've got the offer as well?

No. Are you supposed to talk to my teacher?

The writing has purpose.

Yes, which could be... If you want me to buy better snacks for these

lunch clubs, what will you have to do? Not just ask me, but... Convince,

persuade. Yes!

So that's why it's transactional writing. It wants something from its

All right.

That's all we've got time for today. Pack up your bits and go get some fresh

air.

Ben, think of it like this.

Tactics in football.

Different choices bring about different results.

Same goes for your writing choices.

Yeah? Yeah, OK. That makes sense.

All right.

Well done, guys.

Same again tomorrow if you fancy.

I'll be here as always.

You all right, Kirstie?

Yeah.

Can I take some of these snacks home for tea tonight?

Of course you can, yeah.

If you ever want to talk, you know I'm here, don't you?

Yeah.

Thanks, miss.

Sit down.

I've got you some work.

So it was Callum from year 10?

I mean, I really thought he was going to hit me, which is so unlike how he

usually is.

I have a word with him once he's called down. Have you told pupils to board?

I emailed them, but apparently no -one's in until next week.

So a bit like the behaviour management we were promised last year.

I've literally just gone through classes, sent pupils here, and I wasn't

convinced. They want to cut back, they cut back.

And we've got the bare minimum we can function with. And I'm, you know what?

sick of it. I've been told the honest thing.

What's your thing about leaving?

You say this again and again.

Yeah, because it's getting worse. This is a job, Joe.

You nearly getting hit is not part of the job. That's not normal, is it?

Look, I know the places they're going to have to... They'll just have similar

problems. Not enough money, not enough staff.

We can't just quit because it's getting tough, OK?

I went to a school like this.

And the kids need a kiss. What were you doing? Just there, just for the sake of

it. I'm not saying that. All right, well, I'm not having a go at you. Yeah,

are, a bit, actually.

Amy, I... Look, I've been thinking a lot, OK? I just... I just think...

..if we do have a kid... ..and we're spending all of our time here, just

working, what, 70, 80 -odd weeks, working ourselves to the bone,

Two hosts of people.

Expending all our time and effort and energy on other people's kids and not

being able to look after our own.

I'm not right.

I'm not fair, is it?

Yeah.

What? What is it?

Um... I was going to tell you later, but...

It's been weighing on me, actually, and then with everything that's gone on

today, I'm not pregnant.

I felt a bit funny this morning. I thought, maybe, but I took a

test and I'm not, so...

Just maybe need a break from time, though.

Yeah, yeah, I get that.

Are there more

books here?

Yeah,

I think you're right about them, sir.

What, and you just thought, dump them on Amy's desk?

I think it's just because you're acting head of department.

No, I'm not.

Well, no, not officially, but... And marking books is something that we can

do. Eh?

I've been doing loads.

Are we doing another late night tonight?

Only because if we are, I'll order us another pizza.

Hello? Amy. Oh, my God, Christ, Meg. I don't know. I don't know. I'm just

to think about what I said today, OK? Never mind tomorrow. I'm just trying to

get my lessons bulletproof, but I can't, can I? Because there's never any

fucking time.

We're all having a bad day, Amy. Yeah.

Oh, hey, if you go on a photocopy and it's broken again, sorry.

I was meant to say sorry.

Well, never mind telling me, Meg. How about someone else go fix it, hmm?

I don't do anything special. Just follow the instructions, turn it off and on

again. All right. Do you know what? I'm getting sick of my back teeth.

Everyone's stumping. Everything on my desk is ready for me to tilt it.

Oh, God.

Amy?

Bad times?

Massively so, but go on.

I'll be quick.

We're putting together a response to the Drew situation.

I want us to be prepared, so we're looking at a full staff conduct review

the board by an external.

We're also moving you into the head of English role.

Your experience, especially by the parents and staff, is a good, positive

If we could just get a quote from you about taking on the role and moving

forward, that'd be brilliant.

You can really shape the department.

I want a more holistic approach with a fantastic teacher at the centre.

It's a great opportunity.

Why is it that man has to fail so spectacularly for a woman to get a great

opportunity? That's not what this is.

Feels like PR.

Feels like you want me to come and clean up.

Look, we've had this conversation before. You know I backed you for that

had to do last year.

And I also know that I ended up doing the role anyway, just without the pay or

job title.

Well, that can change.

But I want these kids to have their absolute best because I think they

it. And I know you feel the same.

I know it.

The school needs you. You're a fixer. You make the best of what we've got.

And that's all we need going forward. Yeah.

Will you replace Drew?

Because if nothing else, he was a body in the room.

We can't straight away.

We're going to have to be creative with the timetabling. Yeah, so that's my

problem.

I will be head of department, I'll come to you with a problem, and you'll tell

me, sorry, Amy, nothing we can do.

That's not going to happen. No, no, no, wait, wait, wait, hold on.

Because as much as I'm thinking about it, as much as I'm interested, I'm also

thinking you're offering this to me because I'm not a fixer. I just put up

things. I mean, Chris, look, I try my hardest, I do, but let's be honest, it's

not getting any better around here, is it?

That's why I want you head of English.

You can raise the standards, imprint on it.

We are limited, yes.

But better days are coming, if we work at it.

All right, all right.

Car's on the table.

The head's done.

The head's done after this Ofsted.

He took us into special measures and he's not getting us out.

Schools evolve and thrive or they stagnate in mediocrity and die.

We're close to the abyss and... You're going to save us all.

Well, the governor's not got ambition.

You know I can spend the money better than Andy, make better decisions like

putting you in a position of power.

Look, the kids need us.

Let me know by the end of the day.

I really want you for this.

What?

Help

you

sit down, Calum. Outside now.

Now!

I can't do this. It just isn't fair.

Everyone back in your seats!

What happened?

We're bleeding over you. It's only worth the lose. Karen!

You all right?

Miss?

Right, more poetry.

We are going to be looking at two poems today, picking them apart in our pairs,

and then maybe some writing at the end. Paul, can you hand those out for me,

please?

It's going to be a good one today, so let's get started, and it will be closer

to home time.

So what is Wordsworth doing here with the language of... Blake, miss, it's

Blake.

Yeah, Blake. Sorry.

So here we have Blake wandering through London in the 1790s describing

a nightmarish dystopia corrupted by those in power, enslaving everyone who

there. What?

Hi. Mind if I pop in?

Yeah, of course.

Hello.

Settle down, everyone. Back to work, please.

What are you doing, Miss? Come on.

Oh, yeah.

OK, right. So, then.

Tell me things. What is it?

Any answer.

Any answer will do.

A poem.

Yes, Paul, it is a poem. But how do we know it's a poem?

Hmm? The way it looks.

Yes, Gabby, but, you know, it's not enough to just say that. Come on, give

more. Use what we've been over already.

It's about London.

And it uses a metaphor.

Yes, well done, that's great, excellent.

Come on, anyone else?

It's an album.

It is an old poem, correct, but how do we know?

Hmm? Anyone?

Guys, it's not enough to just say it's a poem, okay? What type of poem is it?

How do we know it's a poem? What language is Blake using, okay?

More. You guys, come on, keep going. You need to give me more.

Can we move on yet, miss? Yeah, just look at the

Wordsworth, okay?

Please, miss.

You know what I mean, Gabby.

It's okay, look, come on, Miss, come on.

Just carry on looking out, everyone, okay?

You'll be fine.

It's only worse when it's off dead.

This is why we're bottom set.

Miss, can you put your hat on, please?

Miss, it's up to you.

Miss,

can you put your hat on, please? Stop,

stop! Just stop, okay?

You can see I'm having a problem here. You can see it's not working, so just...

Stop!

It wasn't a good lesson.

But the lesson plan was good, though. You've seen that, you've read that.

Yes, well, these things can happen.

I'd love to have a wider chat about the department.

Maybe think about doing a learning walk through lessons tomorrow?

Yeah, yeah, that's fine.

What did you write down about the lesson?

Oh, I can't talk about it.

Bad then?

You know, it's not about one individual lesson. It's more about the learning

across the larger landscape of the school.

Yeah, but, you know, I said it was a bad lesson. I understand where I went

wrong. Does that not count for anything in your report?

Well, you may know you've had one bad lesson.

We're here to make sure that it's not something which is occurring regularly.

So the point of you is to come here and tell us things we already know.

Brilliant.

Absolutely brilliant.

I'm not sure what this is, but I do understand that this is a school going

through tough times.

No, you do not care.

I do care. And we want rapid improvement.

This is a school you put into special measures.

A school that has no support, finance cuts, staff cuts, and you expect rapid

improvement. It can be done. Even in the toughest of circumstances and with

limitations.

Improvements have to be made. That's the job. I've heard it time and time again.

We need to be doing more with less.

But we have nothing.

And you are expecting everything from us.

Your eye looks swollen.

Yes, I'm having a bad day.

Where does that stand in your larger landscape of things?

Well, what happened? You shouldn't have been teaching.

There you go. Telling me things I already know. Again. Look.

I was a teacher too.

I do understand. You were last in a classroom when?

No, you judge us based on your own whims with zero consideration for the fact

that the system is fucking shattered.

I don't know what's going on here, but I do know that if you're going through

something, then it needs to be done away from the classroom.

Your bad day should not affect the children's learning.

If it were your child, you would want the best.

And if you weren't getting it then you would want intervention and action.

Now I'm going to go and look for some ice for your eye.

You shouldn't have done that lesson.

I'm going back, miss.

Never mind.

You okay?

Will you quit, then?

Maybe.

Because of me.

It was a good lesson, you miss.

All about picking up on language and how to convey meaning through choice.

All stuff you're good at.

Probably the best lesson of the day was to say something.

I didn't mean to hurt you.

You shouldn't have been fighting, Callum.

People were taking piss laughing at me, weren't they?

That's why you need to be in proper uniform.

What? I like it.

Mum got it.

Nice. Keep it so when you're not at school.

I really didn't mean to hurt you.

I know.

Still did, though.

Sorry.

Really, I'm... What's going on, Callum?

You've not been right today.

Are you still my teacher?

You can talk to me, you know that.

I wanted to go into office, but...

I didn't want to see any of the teachers.

Because I was going to come and see you. I wanted to come and see you this

morning.

That's why you were late.

Then I wanted to talk to you and listen.

I wanted to be in lesson. I did. I proper did. I wanted to be there. It

seem like it. I did. I was just fucking... I couldn't hack it.

I just... I wanted to talk.

Well, talk to me now. What's wrong?

I was going to... I did want to tell you.

I was going to come and then I didn't and it all just...

Built up in my head and... Tell me now, Callum. Tell me.

I think... I think...

I think my mum's dead.

Just leave it, miss. Just leave it, you know.

We agreed.

I'm going to go in, check, and then we can make some calls.

I don't want anyone else. I just... I think I'm wrong. I'm probably wrong.

Do you want me to go in?

Are you okay? Have you called anyone?

No, he won't let me fix it out. I had to show him I was calling you and not 999.

Okay, well, I'll, um... I'll head to school now. Thanks.

I'll bring him back to school as well.

Can't just keep him here.

Okay. I don't think there's anyone else, is there?

Not that I know of.

I'll, um... I'll call the social as well.

He's in bits.

How did you find him?

He was at the bus stop near school.

I, um, walked out.

What do you mean? You walked out? Are you okay?

No. We'll talk later.

Love you.

Love you too.

Alison, you're brilliant.

She wouldn't have said anything.

No. You did the right thing.

I don't know what happened.

I went to bed.

She stayed up.

She stays with it, you know.

I get up in the morning.

I wake her up because she sleeps heavy.

She makes breakfast.

I get ready.

We have breakfast together and then I go to school.

It's here for three.

Help them at three and that's what we do.

She wasn't in bed this morning, she was in the chair.

And I tried to wake her up.

Did it quietly and then a bit louder.

Didn't know what to do with me. She was so cold.

Honey, why didn't you tell anyone?

Because everything's going to change and I don't want it to.

I just wanted to go to school, do work, but I couldn't.

I promised that I'd do better in school, be better, but I've been... It's been

fucked all day. It's OK.

No, no.

Yesterday it was fine.

Last night it was fine. No, it's not.

I don't understand why I don't get it, miss. It's not fair.

Callum, is there not anyone I can call that can come and help?

It's easy.

Without her, I'm alone.

And I don't understand why she's in there, but she's not.

She's not.

I want her to tell me what to do, but she can't.

She's not there, Miss. I don't want this, Miss. I don't want it.

I don't like me.

It's about me and this place.

Go on, you go.

Two sex, yeah?

Are you in trouble?

No, nothing like that.

I'm not doing this on my own.

You won't, all right?

I'm right behind you.