The Big School Lottery and me
| 12:55 UK
time, Tuesday, 7 September 2010
"..Just seen the Ìý- did you know there's a picture of Harry in it? ... And they've quoted you.. We saw you onÌýTV last night...."
Saturday morning and several texts from friends are a forceful reminder that this week a year in our lives is about to become public property - thanks to Blast Films and The Big School Lottery.
Almost exactly a year ago, enjoying the sunshineÌýat theÌýKing Edward's Five Ways School Open Day, I fell into conversation (as I tend to do!) with the woman standing beside me. We chatted, exchanging the usual 'children' small talk, discussing our impressions of the school, its pupils, the Head. "So, which other schools are you considering?" I asked. Small silence. "Oh I'm not here as a parent....we're making a film about the secondary transfer process in Birmingham..." My interestÌýwas caught, more discussion..."Would you be interested in taking part?"
How could I resist? As a pupil, parent and teacher, I have experienced almost every aspect of the good and the bad that is British education.Ìý I jump at the chance to be involved in anything that will raise the profile of the issues surrounding our iniquitous system. But it's not about me, it's Harry who the programme will focus on - our youngest sonÌýaged 10 - as he begins the process of transferring from primary to secondary school.
I have been through the school application processÌýthree times before - each one in a different place, with different issues and different outcomes! For Harry it will be the one and only time in his life he will face this important milestone. How would he feel about having it recorded, being followed by a camera crew, asked to describe his feelings, his thoughts on everything at various significant points? In typical Harry style, he is very laid back about the whole thing - "sounds fun", "why not?"
A week or so later it had begun for real as we found ourselves, complete with radio mics and accompanying camera crew, the object of major curiosity as we squeezed our way along the crowded corridors at the next school's open day. Throughout the year, those camera crews became an intrinsic accompaniment to each important school occasion - open days, the 11+, entrance exams, results days, the decision process. They followed Harry at school, in classes, with his friends, at games and in drama club. Snapshots of our family life were filmed, our opinions, our thoughts recorded, immortalised forever.Ìý Being filmed became a part of our lives until, on Friday 3rd September 2010, after following Harry on his first day at his new school, finally it was finished.
SoÌýdid we regret getting involved? In typical Harry style, he is still very laid back about the whole thing - "mostly it was fun", "I'm quite sad it's finished - I'll miss them". For me - I'm glad we got involved. I have enjoyed meeting the team, sharing my thoughts andÌýbeing part of the fascinating process of creating a documentary.
What will the final film say about us, about Birmingham and most importantly about education? I hope above all that it, and the other films in the series, will raise awareness of the fundamental importance of education in our society and the urgent need to address the educational issues facing us in Britain today. I hope that it will inspire a collective desire not just to criticise, accuse or blame as is so often the tendency nowadays, but to seek constructive solutions and to look at positive ways to improve that which lies at the core of our civilisation.
For now, I must climb off the soapbox.... eagerly to await the outcome of the last year's adventure in the world of television!
Lesley Wilson and her son Harry appear in The Big School Lottery programme.
Read Julie Newbold's Ö÷²¥´óÐã TV blog entry about her job as head of admissions and appeals at Birmingham City Council.
The Big School Lottery starts on Tuesday, 7 September at 9pm on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Two.
To find out all future episodes of The Big School Lottery please visit the show's upcoming episode page.
Comment number 1.
At 8th Sep 2010, U14605483 wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 2.
At 8th Sep 2010, selenityshiroi wrote:I've never understood why people try insisting that a child needs to be in 'a good school'.
I went to a school that was considered 'substandard' and walked out of it with very good GCSEs. As did several other students. You know how we did this? By listening in class, doing the work assigned and TRYING.
I hate to break this to people, but the reason why children do poorly at school tends to be because they don't try, they don't have the correct support at home (schools tend to have plenty of support, but students don't tend to use it because they aren't willing to put that extra effort in without being pushed or forced into it) or (god forbid a parent actually admit this) their child just isn't intullectually gifted.
Parents need to accept that they also have a responsibility to their children's education.
My parents taught me to read and write before I even stepped into a classroom. And they both worked full time, so it's not like they had time to spare. When I struggled with coursework or homework, my parents sat down with me and helped me to understand (back in the day before the internet became the most valuable reference tool ever created)-teaching themselves at the same time if they didn't know HOW to help. My parents paid attention to what I was doing at school and god help me if they thought I wasn't listening in class or if my teacher's thought I wasn't trying hard enough-that would involve no TV/books/playtime until I'd done some extra assignments.
Children will get nothing out of education without putting in some honest effort of their own. And until people accept that their children need to WORK to learn, instead of knowledge being dropped into their heads by some magically gifted school with good OFSTED reports, then things will never improve.
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Comment number 3.
At 15th Sep 2010, shadcroft67 wrote:I really enjoyed 'The Big School Lottery' & although I am neither parent, child or teacher I found it really interesting & very balanced.
I have only come on this blog to highlight 2 observations I have made.
The 1st one is negative, not about the programme, but about a school.
I do apologise but I have looked & cannot find the name of the school.
It was the school that had the policeman permanetly stationed there. It really needs to look at it's self with a new outlook as it will continue to fail.
To me that is very scary, but obviously deemed neccessary. Ok with that. But & it's a BIG BUT.
How dare the male form tutor lecture the pupils on their 1st day about the importance of giving the correct impression with the way that they are to wear their uniform & that they must be very smart at all times, whilst wearing a pair of jogger shorts & a tracksuit top.
Whilst I fully agree & support the ethos behind the message, I cannot believe that neither the teacher or his collegues thought about his own personal dress code. This may seem a very minor point, but it spoke volumes to me & I wouldn't expect any pupil to respect anything that he said. You have to live by the rule you make - or to put it a better way - Lead by Example!
And secondly - I just like to say how wonderful the parents of Moshai were. I think they had fantastic values & the way that his father described his son developing from a seed to a plant who was just starting to develop his own colour, were the words of a truely great father.
I apologise for jumping on your blog, but if possible please pass onto the relevant people.
Kind regards
Sarah SX
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Comment number 4.
At 16th Sep 2010, Laila_xx wrote:Hi,
Incredible documentary.The struggle,hard work and emotional journey of 6 families in pursuit to attain and secure a place for their childrens in a good school.The joy and compromises all woven into the fine fabric.
FANTASTIC it has been pleasure watching,a good one from bbc.
I agree to the views of sarah sx,its true. The teacher is a role model and how can a teacher wearing shabby shorts teach the students to wear proper uniform..?I think the head teacher & the chair of governors should show tutors what decipline means,and the only way to do this is to show them THE WAY OUT.
and POLICE PERMANENTLY IN THE SCHOOL...? i wouldnt comment...leave it to all good parents to say their views....
All parents in the documentary were an example of true Good British Families, Agreeing again to the views of sarah mohsins father and mother both were so real,truely great parents.His formulae of success..so much truth simplified in few words.
Dad telling the child "Success doesnt grow on trees,neither it is avilable on a supermarket,but slowly and surely it is achieved by hard work...so true....think....it is 100% true.
Britain needs more of these families.Ö÷²¥´óÐã please can we watch some more of Mohsins family on telly.if possible please pass onto the relevant people in Ö÷²¥´óÐã.
The love and interigrity working in harmony making Mohsins family a family worth watching.
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Comment number 5.
At 22nd Sep 2010, ET wrote:I found this series really enjoyable especially seeing the way the system put all the student information together and then allocated places. Having chosen out of catchment for all my children it can be a stressful time although I live in an area where even the catchment school is ok.
I don't if systems are different elsewhere or if this is universal but I was under the impression there was no point in putting another good school second on the list as you would be unlikely to get it if you didn't want them as first choice. I chose only the school I wanted and the catchment school as back up.
I noticed in the last programme that the young boy who didn't get a place at his chosen school didn't appear. It would have been nice to have known what happened even if it was only that they chose not to appear.
With regards to the teacher in the tracksuit I thought I heard it mentioned that he was a PE teacher in which case it may be unpractical for him to take registration and then be expected to change into PE kit when he should be supervising.
I enjoyed the watching Khan family with Saffiyas father tutoring her himself which shows you don't have to be wealthy and pay a fortune to give your children an advantage.
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Comment number 6.
At 23rd Sep 2010, shadcroft67 wrote:In response to ET(sudden urge to say 'Phone Ö÷²¥´óÐã!', sorry couldn't help it LOL), I completely understand their arguement. But consider these points first -
1. It was the students 1st day at a New school which was by all the rules & regulations were trying to create an impression of High standards.
2. As the form tutor pointed out - 1st impression count !!???
3. There was a film crew there filming him for a series that was going to be broadcasted nationally, & apart from the Head of Year, was the only member of teaching staff to represent the school.
4. Didn't we all have to get changed for PE????
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Comment number 7.
At 28th Sep 2010, keeffeeley wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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