1 00:00:11,519 --> 00:00:13,759 Tracking down kids who aren't in class... 2 00:00:13,759 --> 00:00:15,559 KNOCKING. 3 00:00:16,759 --> 00:00:20,239 ..school and council staff are knocking on doors. 4 00:00:21,319 --> 00:00:24,119 So, she should be back in school today, yes? 5 00:00:24,159 --> 00:00:25,999 Good morning, Year 7, this side. 6 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:27,999 Your child has not returned to college today. 7 00:00:27,999 --> 00:00:31,119 Good morning, good morning. 8 00:00:31,119 --> 00:00:33,479 Driving up attendance after the pandemic disruption 9 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:36,519 is a priority for the school system. 10 00:00:36,559 --> 00:00:40,199 Hi, it's Horizon Attendance. 11 00:00:40,199 --> 00:00:41,839 We absolutely need them back in school. 12 00:00:41,839 --> 00:00:44,439 It's got to be a priority. 13 00:00:44,439 --> 00:00:46,199 It's got to be a top priority. 14 00:00:46,199 --> 00:00:48,119 We've been following three teenagers this summer - 15 00:00:48,119 --> 00:00:53,399 as they battle to get back to school regularly. 16 00:00:56,119 --> 00:00:59,079 School definitely isn't suitable for everybody. 17 00:00:59,079 --> 00:01:01,639 There was always something like kicking off like you couldn't 18 00:01:01,639 --> 00:01:04,159 go, like, a week without something going off. 19 00:01:04,159 --> 00:01:09,359 Some people went, like, lost their brain in the lockdown - 20 00:01:11,039 --> 00:01:13,839 like I think I kind of did, too. 21 00:01:30,199 --> 00:01:33,639 Multiple teachers have said that, you know, I'm always smiling, 22 00:01:33,719 --> 00:01:37,399 so, it's kind of like, yeah, I'm not always smiling. 23 00:01:37,439 --> 00:01:40,679 It's not always how I feel. 24 00:01:44,879 --> 00:01:47,559 This year, while her friends were in school, 25 00:01:47,559 --> 00:01:50,639 13-year-old Abbie wasn't. 26 00:01:52,759 --> 00:01:55,959 She hasn't attended since January. 27 00:01:56,559 --> 00:02:01,159 It gradually started getting harder and harder for me to go into school. 28 00:02:04,479 --> 00:02:07,639 It's kind of like, "Why can't I just be like everyone else?" 29 00:02:09,359 --> 00:02:14,079 Abbie has ADHD and is autistic. 30 00:02:14,079 --> 00:02:17,319 She's more sensitive to sound and touch than other teenagers. 31 00:02:17,519 --> 00:02:21,999 Major changes can be especially hard to handle. 32 00:02:23,279 --> 00:02:27,639 She started secondary school during the pandemic. 33 00:02:27,719 --> 00:02:30,079 She struggled to cope when things went back to normal 34 00:02:30,079 --> 00:02:34,959 after the Covid restrictions eased. 35 00:02:36,759 --> 00:02:40,639 I started to find it really challenging because it was all these 36 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,679 different sensory things that were all of these people 37 00:02:43,679 --> 00:02:47,359 talking, it was really noisy. 38 00:02:51,239 --> 00:02:52,879 NOISES ECHOING 39 00:02:52,959 --> 00:02:57,119 I mean, there were a lot of things that would stress me out at school. 40 00:02:57,519 --> 00:03:01,279 I'd be getting to sleep at maybe 3am, 3am to 4am. 41 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:07,159 But I think I was just thinking about everything. 42 00:03:11,839 --> 00:03:13,319 Abbie's school did all it could, 43 00:03:13,319 --> 00:03:15,959 but coping with a busy environment became too much for her. 44 00:03:15,959 --> 00:03:18,399 She was diagnosed with autistic burnout. 45 00:03:18,439 --> 00:03:21,719 I want to be in school. 46 00:03:21,839 --> 00:03:24,919 I want to learn in school because I find it easier to focus 47 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:27,399 in school, in a school environment. 48 00:03:30,039 --> 00:03:34,279 I just wanted to be able to do that because everyone else could. 49 00:03:38,959 --> 00:03:41,159 For Abbie, it's additional needs, but for other children, 50 00:03:41,159 --> 00:03:45,399 it could be problems at home or trouble at school. 51 00:03:47,679 --> 00:03:51,839 In the autumn term last year, almost 1.7 million children 52 00:03:51,879 --> 00:03:56,119 missed seven days of school or more. 53 00:03:56,199 --> 00:03:57,639 Even allowing for some Covid disruption, 54 00:03:57,639 --> 00:04:01,359 that's significantly higher than before the pandemic. 55 00:04:05,719 --> 00:04:08,359 As the BBC's Education Editor, I've been reporting on the challenges 56 00:04:08,359 --> 00:04:12,239 faced by schools in England since the outbreak of Covid. 57 00:04:14,879 --> 00:04:18,319 Congratulations, again, it is just so nice to see a happy face. 58 00:04:20,799 --> 00:04:22,959 During the lockdowns, schools across the UK were closed 59 00:04:22,959 --> 00:04:26,479 to most children. 60 00:04:26,519 --> 00:04:30,759 Now, there's a big push to get them all back. 61 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:31,919 The Children's Commissioner 62 00:04:31,919 --> 00:04:37,039 protects and promotes the rights of children in England. 63 00:04:37,119 --> 00:04:39,239 I really think the Prime Minister... 64 00:04:39,239 --> 00:04:42,519 The Prime Minister needs to make this one of her top priorities. 65 00:04:43,679 --> 00:04:45,559 Getting our children back to school and thriving 66 00:04:45,559 --> 00:04:50,039 and succeeding and achieving, it's got to be a top priority. 67 00:04:50,039 --> 00:04:55,119 You've talked about an ambition for 100% attendance this term - 68 00:04:55,199 --> 00:04:57,519 something that's never been achieved. 69 00:04:57,519 --> 00:05:00,319 Why set the bar so high? 70 00:05:00,319 --> 00:05:04,679 Who would we leave out, Branwen? Who would we leave out? 71 00:05:06,799 --> 00:05:09,199 Some are trying to deal with problems beyond their control. 72 00:05:09,199 --> 00:05:11,359 Head of year, Luke Kirkham, is waiting. 73 00:05:32,519 --> 00:05:35,919 Head of year Luke Kirkham is waiting. 74 00:05:40,159 --> 00:05:44,879 Quite surprised he was this late now, honestly. 75 00:05:45,919 --> 00:05:48,759 It's not a regular occurrence for Bradley to be late to school. 76 00:05:48,759 --> 00:05:51,399 15-year-old Bradley is in a hurry to make it to class. 77 00:05:51,399 --> 00:05:55,519 He's running late. 78 00:06:09,479 --> 00:06:12,319 Bradley's been working hard to attend school regularly 79 00:06:12,319 --> 00:06:15,359 since his dad died a year ago. 80 00:06:15,359 --> 00:06:17,799 Even the days he did come in, he did force himself to come in. 81 00:06:19,639 --> 00:06:22,479 You could clearly tell that he had some like mental barrier resistance, 82 00:06:22,479 --> 00:06:25,679 he climbed the mountain of getting out the door and getting to school. 83 00:06:25,679 --> 00:06:29,799 And he was just not engaged and he didn't want to be there. 84 00:06:29,799 --> 00:06:35,039 Last year was, like, it was a horrible year for me anyway. 85 00:06:36,399 --> 00:06:38,719 I dunno about anyone else, but for me, it was... 86 00:06:38,719 --> 00:06:40,919 I was just finding different ways to obviously cope 87 00:06:40,919 --> 00:06:43,519 with my grief over my dad. 88 00:06:48,879 --> 00:06:50,279 WHISTLE BLOWS. 89 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:52,719 Off we go, please. 90 00:06:57,879 --> 00:07:00,039 At Horizon Community College, pushing up attendance means tackling 91 00:07:00,039 --> 00:07:02,359 students and parents directly. 92 00:07:04,519 --> 00:07:09,359 The bar has been set high this year, you know, we have got a mantra 93 00:07:09,359 --> 00:07:11,919 that every child attends school. 94 00:07:11,919 --> 00:07:14,239 You know, 100% attendance shouldn't be out of the realms 95 00:07:14,239 --> 00:07:16,359 of possibility for children. 96 00:07:16,359 --> 00:07:18,559 Hi, it's Horizon Attendance, I'm just letting you know 97 00:07:18,559 --> 00:07:20,479 that your son has not arrived as yet. 98 00:07:20,479 --> 00:07:21,839 Is he on his way? 99 00:07:21,839 --> 00:07:23,999 We haven't got your daughter in school as yet, 100 00:07:23,999 --> 00:07:25,439 should she be on her way? 101 00:07:25,439 --> 00:07:30,639 Your child has not returned to college today. 102 00:07:30,719 --> 00:07:33,119 The college takes immediate action as soon as it knows 103 00:07:33,119 --> 00:07:36,999 a child hasn't made it to class. 104 00:07:37,999 --> 00:07:42,279 She was in yesterday, however not in today. 105 00:07:44,959 --> 00:07:49,399 So, I have a team that straight away can pull those registers 106 00:07:49,399 --> 00:07:51,959 within minutes and start to see who's in, who's not. 107 00:07:51,959 --> 00:07:54,879 We know some of the children that we need to look for 108 00:07:54,879 --> 00:07:56,519 straight away and start making those calls 109 00:07:56,519 --> 00:07:58,399 or actually go out on to home visits. 110 00:07:58,399 --> 00:08:01,119 It's just there. 111 00:08:01,599 --> 00:08:03,559 They're visiting the home of a teenage girl 112 00:08:03,559 --> 00:08:08,799 who they expected to be in class this morning. 113 00:08:16,959 --> 00:08:20,199 Hello. 114 00:08:20,879 --> 00:08:23,239 In terms of returning back to school, do you think 115 00:08:23,239 --> 00:08:24,359 she'll be back in tomorrow? 116 00:08:24,359 --> 00:08:25,559 Yes, she will. 117 00:08:25,559 --> 00:08:28,479 She did want to come today because she was so looking forward 118 00:08:28,479 --> 00:08:33,199 to trying Business and her options. But we do need her back in tomorrow. 119 00:08:33,199 --> 00:08:36,119 She'll be back. Bless her. 120 00:08:36,119 --> 00:08:40,439 And she was back in school the next day. 121 00:08:50,759 --> 00:08:54,559 Careful, watch your fingers. Watch your fingers! 122 00:08:55,279 --> 00:08:56,959 Once she's helped her brother with breakfast, 123 00:08:56,959 --> 00:09:00,759 16 year-old Mollie will be off to school. 124 00:09:02,759 --> 00:09:04,159 Her attendance record shows she missed 125 00:09:04,159 --> 00:09:07,839 almost a quarter of the year. 126 00:09:08,639 --> 00:09:13,479 She's only going in this morning because she's doing a GCSE exam. 127 00:09:17,359 --> 00:09:20,479 There's constantly a battle with school. 128 00:09:20,479 --> 00:09:23,039 I'm always on the phone, or there's something, 129 00:09:23,039 --> 00:09:24,679 she's coming home, there's a problem. 130 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:29,919 Mollie's relationship with school has almost completely broken down. 131 00:09:30,799 --> 00:09:33,639 Message me when you're done, let me know how you get on. 132 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:38,639 She was often in trouble, sometimes with students, 133 00:09:38,639 --> 00:09:42,519 sometimes with staff. 134 00:09:42,599 --> 00:09:44,759 Mollie was repeatedly sent out of class, sent home 135 00:09:44,759 --> 00:09:48,199 and told to study there. 136 00:09:48,279 --> 00:09:51,319 But her mum says she was being bullied. 137 00:09:51,319 --> 00:09:53,479 Mollie says the school didn't manage the situation well 138 00:09:53,479 --> 00:09:58,719 and wanted to get rid of her. 139 00:09:58,799 --> 00:10:03,999 There was always something, like, kicking off. 140 00:10:04,999 --> 00:10:09,559 Like, you couldn't go, like, a week without something going. 141 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:13,759 Like, how everything was like kind of like ignored so anything 142 00:10:13,759 --> 00:10:17,599 that was, like, an actual problem would be, like, ignored 143 00:10:17,599 --> 00:10:19,919 and then it was easier to, like, send someone home 144 00:10:19,919 --> 00:10:21,039 than deal with it. 145 00:10:21,039 --> 00:10:22,959 An Ofsted report published in September has rated 146 00:10:22,959 --> 00:10:26,879 the school inadequate. 147 00:10:26,879 --> 00:10:29,519 It says behaviour and bullying is poorly managed and too many 148 00:10:29,519 --> 00:10:32,319 pupils are persistently absent. 149 00:10:35,999 --> 00:10:40,439 From the start to the finish, it's just been an absolute mess. 150 00:10:40,439 --> 00:10:45,719 She had a few bullying issues. 151 00:10:45,759 --> 00:10:48,799 And as much as I was going to school for support with that, 152 00:10:48,799 --> 00:10:51,159 I was kind of getting nowhere. 153 00:10:51,159 --> 00:10:53,839 GCSE year's massive, anyway. 154 00:10:53,839 --> 00:10:56,279 The pressure that it was bringing home, it was continuous. 155 00:10:56,279 --> 00:10:59,479 And you could kind of see the breakdown of Mollie. 156 00:11:02,599 --> 00:11:05,199 The Holgate Academy won't comment on individual cases and says it 157 00:11:05,199 --> 00:11:09,479 deals with any disruptive behaviour in line with school policy. 158 00:11:10,319 --> 00:11:13,239 It says bullying is not tolerated in any form and its staff 159 00:11:13,239 --> 00:11:18,319 try to support all students in any kind of difficulty. 160 00:11:19,639 --> 00:11:22,879 Obviously, I know where I went wrong. 161 00:11:22,879 --> 00:11:26,559 Like, I admit when I've done stuff wrong, but then I can also see, 162 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:29,399 like, where school did wrong or they'll help, like, one kid out 163 00:11:29,399 --> 00:11:32,039 but won't help the other out. 164 00:11:32,839 --> 00:11:35,039 The Government expects pupils to be taught in school 165 00:11:35,039 --> 00:11:38,519 as much as possible. 166 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:43,039 Is there ever any justification for poor behaviour being used 167 00:11:43,039 --> 00:11:46,199 to not support someone? 168 00:11:46,239 --> 00:11:49,959 The simple answer is no. 169 00:11:49,959 --> 00:11:52,839 The intervention and the support for the child really needs to go 170 00:11:52,839 --> 00:11:55,199 in to find out what is actually going on there. 171 00:11:55,199 --> 00:11:58,839 Um, you know, children need to be in school. 172 00:12:05,719 --> 00:12:10,599 Over the last year, Bradley's been trying to get himself back on track. 173 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:13,999 Having hardly been in after his dad's death, 174 00:12:13,999 --> 00:12:17,679 he's been making it in almost every day. 175 00:12:19,959 --> 00:12:21,559 Bradley's school is doing everything it can 176 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:25,039 to help him in the classroom. 177 00:12:26,639 --> 00:12:30,119 Teachers let him use a timeout card. 178 00:12:30,119 --> 00:12:33,359 He can use it a few times a day at any point in class 179 00:12:33,359 --> 00:12:37,039 when it feels too much for him. 180 00:12:38,079 --> 00:12:40,959 A member of staff can just see this and give a nod. 181 00:12:40,959 --> 00:12:43,639 And that student could quietly slip away before any further anxiety 182 00:12:43,639 --> 00:12:46,599 builds or any stress about what they were doing. 183 00:12:46,999 --> 00:12:49,639 They just mostly live around us everywhere... 184 00:12:49,639 --> 00:12:51,919 But it doesn't always work out like that. 185 00:12:51,919 --> 00:12:54,879 Miss, Miss, Miss, can I go toilet? 186 00:12:55,119 --> 00:12:56,479 Are you taking your timeout? 187 00:12:56,479 --> 00:12:58,279 Yeah and then use the toilet. 188 00:12:58,279 --> 00:12:59,959 OK, Bradley, for the last five minutes!? 189 00:12:59,959 --> 00:13:01,999 I need to use the toilet! 190 00:13:01,999 --> 00:13:06,079 It's either that or you just let me go. 191 00:13:10,119 --> 00:13:11,679 That's all right. 192 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:14,559 People think that I'm actually using it to stay out of class. 193 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:17,079 And sometimes I actually do... 194 00:13:17,079 --> 00:13:19,079 Like, sometimes I feel like I should like... 195 00:13:19,079 --> 00:13:21,919 I don't want to go to class, but there is definitely times 196 00:13:21,919 --> 00:13:25,279 where I use it because I've got stuff on my mind that I'm trying 197 00:13:25,279 --> 00:13:28,799 to forget about. 198 00:13:30,319 --> 00:13:32,959 So, your dad might come into your mind or your grief 199 00:13:32,959 --> 00:13:35,319 might come into your mind at that moment in class? 200 00:13:35,319 --> 00:13:37,919 Yeah. 201 00:13:43,039 --> 00:13:44,479 It's not been without challenges itself, 202 00:13:44,479 --> 00:13:46,879 the introduction of this card and the use of it. 203 00:13:46,879 --> 00:13:48,999 But, overall, we've seen a direct improvement in attendance 204 00:13:48,999 --> 00:13:53,999 and attainment and punctuality to just lessons. 205 00:13:54,639 --> 00:13:56,639 Without those timeout cards, without that escape valve 206 00:13:56,639 --> 00:13:58,679 for Bradley, do you think he would actually be 207 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:02,759 turning up to school every day? 208 00:14:02,759 --> 00:14:05,199 It's certainly less likely, I would imagine that his attendance 209 00:14:05,199 --> 00:14:07,279 would be a lot lower than it currently is, 210 00:14:07,279 --> 00:14:11,519 which is in a very good place. 211 00:14:15,759 --> 00:14:18,159 First game on pitch one over here will be STMM 212 00:14:18,159 --> 00:14:19,439 against Harris Mordant. 213 00:14:19,439 --> 00:14:22,039 Bradley's also been supported by Football Beyond Borders, 214 00:14:22,039 --> 00:14:24,839 a charity that helps young people get the most out of school, 215 00:14:24,839 --> 00:14:30,159 using football to keep kids like Bradley engaged. 216 00:14:31,839 --> 00:14:36,439 His mentor, Lorenzo, has known him since he was 11. 217 00:14:38,599 --> 00:14:41,719 Cool, so three, four years ago, started off the programme, 218 00:14:41,719 --> 00:14:44,999 if you're... 219 00:14:44,999 --> 00:14:47,079 If you're, like, this tall now, how tall do 220 00:14:47,079 --> 00:14:51,119 you reckon you was back then, if you compare it to my hand? 221 00:14:51,119 --> 00:14:52,159 About here? 222 00:14:52,159 --> 00:14:56,759 Yeah, you was a little, little yout! 223 00:14:56,759 --> 00:14:59,359 And whenever you need someone to talk to or some advice, 224 00:14:59,359 --> 00:15:00,439 I'll be here. 225 00:15:00,439 --> 00:15:03,559 The charity helps Bradley and others tackle 226 00:15:03,559 --> 00:15:07,359 the problems that have been holding them back. 227 00:15:07,359 --> 00:15:09,799 It was very hard to control my emotions sometimes - 228 00:15:09,799 --> 00:15:12,599 I'd get very angry on the football pitch. 229 00:15:12,599 --> 00:15:13,639 It's self control. 230 00:15:13,639 --> 00:15:15,279 Hm, how so? What does it mean? 231 00:15:15,279 --> 00:15:19,559 A combination of sympathetic teaching 232 00:15:19,559 --> 00:15:24,599 and mentoring from a charity has supported Bradley in school. 233 00:15:24,639 --> 00:15:27,119 I'm just improving, like, every day as a person 234 00:15:27,119 --> 00:15:29,479 and, like, on the football pitch, as well. 235 00:15:29,479 --> 00:15:34,679 APPLAUSE. 236 00:15:35,799 --> 00:15:40,239 Confidence was a big thing for me, like, at the start of my FBB 237 00:15:40,239 --> 00:15:42,719 journey and I was never ever this confident ever. 238 00:15:42,719 --> 00:15:46,319 Like, I was always that silent kid. 239 00:15:46,319 --> 00:15:51,479 A supportive strategy appears to have worked for Bradley 240 00:15:52,359 --> 00:15:56,319 If all else fails, Government guidance 241 00:15:56,319 --> 00:16:00,159 recommends a tough approach. 242 00:16:00,159 --> 00:16:03,639 Parents can be issued with a fixed penalty fine of £60 243 00:16:03,639 --> 00:16:07,639 if their child keeps missing school without reason. 244 00:16:07,639 --> 00:16:11,599 During the pandemic, the use of fines dwindled almost to nothing 245 00:16:11,599 --> 00:16:14,559 but Panorama has discovered they're making a comeback. 246 00:16:14,559 --> 00:16:19,639 We looked at how fines were issued in England 247 00:16:19,679 --> 00:16:24,919 during the last school year. 248 00:16:25,639 --> 00:16:28,199 Some councils issued dozens of penalties. 249 00:16:28,199 --> 00:16:31,839 Others handed out thousands of them. 250 00:16:31,839 --> 00:16:35,079 At least £8.6 million of fines were issued to parents, 251 00:16:35,079 --> 00:16:40,319 suggesting a return to pre-pandemic levels. 252 00:16:42,839 --> 00:16:45,679 I can think of a number of cases where fines can work, 253 00:16:45,679 --> 00:16:47,959 but, of course, they're not the whole story. 254 00:16:47,959 --> 00:16:50,519 And sometimes they don't work. 255 00:16:50,519 --> 00:16:54,279 And we need to really look with each child 256 00:16:54,279 --> 00:16:56,919 at what is the underlying reason for them not coming in 257 00:16:56,919 --> 00:17:02,279 and address that with whatever it takes. 258 00:17:04,959 --> 00:17:07,599 You know when it gets to, like, September, that's when I'm 259 00:17:07,599 --> 00:17:10,639 gonna start freaking out about it. 260 00:17:10,639 --> 00:17:12,839 No amount of threats or inducements would make 261 00:17:12,839 --> 00:17:17,279 a difference to Abbie's parents. 262 00:17:17,279 --> 00:17:19,359 They know the value of school - 263 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:22,919 they're both teachers. 264 00:17:22,919 --> 00:17:26,719 Both of us wanted her in school but it was hard 265 00:17:26,719 --> 00:17:29,879 watching her put so much pressure on herself to do something and then 266 00:17:29,879 --> 00:17:35,119 be completely unable to do it. 267 00:17:35,519 --> 00:17:39,119 And it's a painful thing to watch as a parent but it's also she had 268 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:41,919 a voice and we needed to listen to what she was saying. 269 00:17:41,919 --> 00:17:45,599 How was the walk, Abs? 270 00:17:45,599 --> 00:17:48,119 It was a walk! 271 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:50,479 LAUGHTER. 272 00:17:50,479 --> 00:17:52,879 Mum and Dad think they've found a solution. 273 00:17:52,879 --> 00:17:55,239 Abbie's going to a small private school. 274 00:17:55,239 --> 00:17:57,959 The local authority will pay the fees because it agrees 275 00:17:57,959 --> 00:18:03,199 this will best meet her needs. 276 00:18:04,799 --> 00:18:05,839 ABBIE LAUGHS. 277 00:18:05,839 --> 00:18:08,479 How worried are you about the start of this term, then? 278 00:18:08,479 --> 00:18:12,439 I'm terrified, if I'm honest. 279 00:18:12,439 --> 00:18:15,039 But she's maintained the whole way along that she wants 280 00:18:15,039 --> 00:18:17,839 to learn in a school, and so we have to give her 281 00:18:17,839 --> 00:18:20,639 the best shot at that. 282 00:18:20,639 --> 00:18:24,559 But we're not inside her head, we can't... 283 00:18:24,559 --> 00:18:27,839 We can't tell what's going on. 284 00:18:27,839 --> 00:18:32,519 We have to be led by her. 285 00:18:32,519 --> 00:18:34,719 So, I think, yeah, we've got our fingers crossed. 286 00:18:34,719 --> 00:18:36,039 Don't eat me! 287 00:18:36,039 --> 00:18:39,199 I will kind of figure out how I feel when that time comes. 288 00:18:39,199 --> 00:18:44,359 Like, the day that I'm supposed to be going to school. 289 00:18:45,519 --> 00:18:49,999 That's when I'll kind of, you know, think about it a little more. 290 00:18:49,999 --> 00:18:53,639 I know that if I think about it, I'm going to make myself 291 00:18:53,639 --> 00:18:58,879 really stressed and really anxious about it. 292 00:19:01,919 --> 00:19:05,599 I really feel for parents of children with special educational 293 00:19:05,599 --> 00:19:10,199 needs where those needs have not been met because I think it can 294 00:19:10,199 --> 00:19:11,639 feel like a huge battle. 295 00:19:11,639 --> 00:19:16,839 Your child should be able to be at school. 296 00:19:23,999 --> 00:19:29,199 Mollie wants to be a sports coach. 297 00:19:31,599 --> 00:19:35,079 After helping out younger kids at school, she's got a placement 298 00:19:35,079 --> 00:19:38,839 with a local charity - Helping Kids Achieve. 299 00:19:38,839 --> 00:19:42,999 So you're right handed, so you throw your left first, yeah? 300 00:19:42,999 --> 00:19:48,279 So, one, two, under, left hook, yeah? 301 00:19:48,879 --> 00:19:50,599 They offer activities and mentoring for children. 302 00:19:50,599 --> 00:19:53,239 So, try and twist your hips a bit more when you... 303 00:19:53,239 --> 00:19:55,159 Because it's more power when you hit, yeah? 304 00:19:55,159 --> 00:19:56,159 All right, you ready? 305 00:19:56,159 --> 00:19:57,239 So, we're gonna duck. 306 00:19:57,239 --> 00:19:59,879 Mollie wants to be the mentor she feels she never had. 307 00:19:59,879 --> 00:20:02,479 So, like, if I had someone like me, I think it 308 00:20:02,479 --> 00:20:04,319 would have gone, like, a lot different. 309 00:20:04,319 --> 00:20:06,759 It sounds to me like you don't want other kids 310 00:20:06,759 --> 00:20:10,639 to have the same kind of experiences that you've had at school? 311 00:20:10,639 --> 00:20:15,879 Yeah, so I think I'd rather go and actually make a change than just 312 00:20:17,319 --> 00:20:18,599 sit and talk about it. 313 00:20:18,599 --> 00:20:21,199 This has happened for me and loads of other people, so... 314 00:20:21,199 --> 00:20:23,199 And it's, like, across the country, as well. 315 00:20:23,199 --> 00:20:27,559 So, it clearly is a problem. 316 00:20:27,559 --> 00:20:32,759 To train as a sports coach, Mollie must get the grades. 317 00:20:33,679 --> 00:20:36,319 I think preparing for the GCSEs, it got quite hard cos 318 00:20:36,319 --> 00:20:40,319 obviously I'd missed out. 319 00:20:40,319 --> 00:20:43,519 And if I don't pass, I'll just have to work my way up, 320 00:20:43,519 --> 00:20:47,359 it's just one of those things. 321 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:51,119 It's GCSE results day. 322 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:56,319 Mollie's about to find out the consequences 323 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:04,839 of all that time out of class. 324 00:21:04,839 --> 00:21:08,879 She hasn't passed Maths and English. 325 00:21:08,879 --> 00:21:12,079 She missed out by just one grade. 326 00:21:12,079 --> 00:21:16,639 It's annoying but I kind of expected it, so... 327 00:21:16,639 --> 00:21:19,239 Mollie's grades are lower than she needs 328 00:21:19,239 --> 00:21:21,799 to do the college course she wants. 329 00:21:21,799 --> 00:21:25,559 She'll have to resit Maths and English. 330 00:21:25,559 --> 00:21:29,039 I don't think it's fair but it's life. 331 00:21:29,039 --> 00:21:34,239 SHE LAUGHS WRYLY. 332 00:21:36,159 --> 00:21:38,719 # Look, they told me that as more time goes by 333 00:21:38,719 --> 00:21:40,439 # I'll be open in my feels 334 00:21:40,439 --> 00:21:42,399 # But truth is I've got the lowdown 335 00:21:42,399 --> 00:21:44,759 # And it's breaking me, even though I look steel 336 00:21:44,759 --> 00:21:45,919 # Like a genre bro... 337 00:21:45,919 --> 00:21:49,359 # Love to go non-stop...# 338 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:54,599 It's nearly a year since Bradley's dad died. 339 00:21:55,879 --> 00:21:58,319 I just feel like songs over a situation like that 340 00:21:58,319 --> 00:22:03,479 just helps me a lot. 341 00:22:03,599 --> 00:22:06,519 I find that I'm writing songs myself. 342 00:22:06,519 --> 00:22:10,399 I find that easier than talking to someone. 343 00:22:10,399 --> 00:22:15,599 just find music an easier way to cope with things. 344 00:22:15,919 --> 00:22:19,479 Bradley wrote a track to describe how he felt. 345 00:22:19,479 --> 00:22:21,239 He's never recorded the lyrics. 346 00:22:21,239 --> 00:22:26,479 Until now. 347 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:30,279 # I'll be real two minutes and enough 348 00:22:30,279 --> 00:22:32,639 # I feel like I've got to show more love... 349 00:22:32,639 --> 00:22:36,159 I might be doing this a while. 350 00:22:36,159 --> 00:22:38,319 # He would never say he's unavailable to speak 351 00:22:38,319 --> 00:22:39,959 # And that really gave me trust 352 00:22:39,959 --> 00:22:45,239 # Oooooh! 353 00:22:45,599 --> 00:22:47,799 # I've got bare on my head like hats, 354 00:22:47,799 --> 00:22:49,879 # I've been on the go just writing tracks 355 00:22:49,879 --> 00:22:51,879 # I've been on the go just writing 356 00:22:51,879 --> 00:22:54,479 # So if you'll call me then I won't call back 357 00:22:54,479 --> 00:22:56,359 # I've been in my zone just thinking 358 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:58,799 # Mum wishing that she gets her old son back 359 00:22:58,799 --> 00:23:01,239 # But I aint' got no-one to keep me straight 360 00:23:01,239 --> 00:23:06,399 # And I lost the man that did that.# 361 00:23:12,799 --> 00:23:18,039 Bradley knows this new school year leading up to his GCSEs is crucial. 362 00:23:22,159 --> 00:23:24,439 Like, my worry is that because of my habits, 363 00:23:24,439 --> 00:23:26,839 in other years, like Year 9 and Year 10, I've... 364 00:23:26,839 --> 00:23:29,719 Like, if I'm upset, I'm not going to take my tests seriously 365 00:23:29,719 --> 00:23:31,919 or I'm not gonna do it. 366 00:23:31,919 --> 00:23:35,759 My worry is that I'll try and do it in Year 11 which I can't do 367 00:23:35,759 --> 00:23:41,039 because those tests are just, like, important. 368 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:47,639 Like, they're really important for me - my GCSEs, so 369 00:23:47,639 --> 00:23:51,999 whenever I think about school, I think about that 370 00:23:51,999 --> 00:23:57,199 and I think about going into Year 11. 371 00:23:57,319 --> 00:24:02,559 Yeah... 372 00:24:13,999 --> 00:24:19,239 St Mary Magdalene School, autumn term - 8:45am. 373 00:24:23,319 --> 00:24:25,719 Teacher Luke Kirkham is looking out for Bradley 374 00:24:25,719 --> 00:24:30,999 But he's not here. 375 00:24:31,039 --> 00:24:32,199 He's out of the country. 376 00:24:32,199 --> 00:24:33,479 Where out of the country? 377 00:24:33,479 --> 00:24:35,079 Back home - family place in Africa? 378 00:24:35,079 --> 00:24:36,319 Sierra Leone or Liberia? 379 00:24:36,319 --> 00:24:37,319 Nah. 380 00:24:37,319 --> 00:24:38,319 Neither one? 381 00:24:38,319 --> 00:24:41,359 I don't actually know. 382 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:44,839 I appreciate you - have a good day. 383 00:24:44,839 --> 00:24:47,719 It turns out Bradley and his family have gone to Sierra Leone 384 00:24:47,719 --> 00:24:52,959 to mark the first anniversary of his Dad's death. 385 00:24:54,399 --> 00:24:57,799 Concern is that school have not been contacted and we've had to find out 386 00:24:57,799 --> 00:24:59,439 from Bradley's social group where he is 387 00:24:59,439 --> 00:25:01,079 and he's currently out of the country, 388 00:25:01,079 --> 00:25:02,519 so it will be reported upwards. 389 00:25:02,519 --> 00:25:04,439 The situation was resolved quickly when the family 390 00:25:04,439 --> 00:25:07,959 contacted the school. 391 00:25:07,959 --> 00:25:11,679 Luke works with Bradley, and teenagers like him, 392 00:25:11,679 --> 00:25:16,719 to keep struggling pupils in class. 393 00:25:16,759 --> 00:25:18,399 This should be, like, a rewarding year 394 00:25:18,399 --> 00:25:20,399 as well as a try-hard year. 395 00:25:20,399 --> 00:25:21,759 Including for Bradley, even after everything 396 00:25:21,759 --> 00:25:22,839 he's been through? 397 00:25:22,839 --> 00:25:24,239 Without a doubt. Without a doubt. 398 00:25:24,239 --> 00:25:26,399 That's the whole point. 399 00:25:26,399 --> 00:25:31,599 Especially students like Bradley. 400 00:25:36,719 --> 00:25:41,879 For some teenagers, supportive teachers alone may not be enough. 401 00:25:42,439 --> 00:25:45,559 Abbie has made it into her new school for her first 402 00:25:45,559 --> 00:25:50,799 full lesson in nine months. 403 00:25:51,879 --> 00:25:54,319 Undoubtedly there's lots and lots of Abbie's out there. 404 00:25:54,319 --> 00:25:58,159 Um, and I think the lesson, there are countless lessons 405 00:25:58,159 --> 00:26:00,799 that we can learn, but perhaps one of the most important 406 00:26:00,799 --> 00:26:02,479 is listening to the child. 407 00:26:02,479 --> 00:26:04,359 Their experience is real. 408 00:26:04,359 --> 00:26:07,919 So telling a child who's struggling to get into school that they've just 409 00:26:07,919 --> 00:26:11,079 got to get there and it will be fine when they get there, 410 00:26:11,079 --> 00:26:15,599 that's not necessarily the case. 411 00:26:15,599 --> 00:26:19,079 Abbie could only make it through an hour today. 412 00:26:19,079 --> 00:26:24,359 It will be a long way back for her. 413 00:26:24,919 --> 00:26:27,839 You all right? 414 00:26:27,839 --> 00:26:31,239 Well, I mean, I want to go to school and so I'm kind of, 415 00:26:31,239 --> 00:26:36,439 if I have enough energy for it, I will. 416 00:26:36,559 --> 00:26:40,559 I'm not really talking to people, but I'm kind of just 417 00:26:40,559 --> 00:26:45,759 trying to socialise a little bit. 418 00:26:52,999 --> 00:26:55,799 Mollie's perseverance has paid off. 419 00:26:55,799 --> 00:26:58,719 The college has let her on to the course she wants 420 00:26:58,719 --> 00:27:03,399 and will help her with her resits. 421 00:27:03,399 --> 00:27:08,639 She's determined to make a success of her new life. 422 00:27:15,759 --> 00:27:18,399 It's going to be different being in a normal classroom setting 423 00:27:18,399 --> 00:27:19,999 compared to what I had in school. 424 00:27:19,999 --> 00:27:21,519 So good luck when you start. 425 00:27:21,519 --> 00:27:24,399 So, I think it's going to be difficult with that sudden change. 426 00:27:24,399 --> 00:27:27,919 But then I feel like I'm going to be able to do it because it's 427 00:27:27,919 --> 00:27:29,959 something I want to do. 428 00:27:29,959 --> 00:27:35,239 Bradley has now returned to school. 429 00:27:38,279 --> 00:27:39,639 English, RS, remember it's Tuesday today. 430 00:27:39,639 --> 00:27:40,719 Have a good day. 431 00:27:40,719 --> 00:27:41,759 You too, miss. 432 00:27:41,759 --> 00:27:47,039 He's working with his teachers to get the most from his GCSE year. 433 00:27:57,439 --> 00:28:01,359 Whether it's being burnt out, a personal crisis, 434 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:05,639 or falling out with school, some children need the right support 435 00:28:05,639 --> 00:28:10,759 to get them through the gates.