Chat Ed : Welcome to this evening's webchat with Phil Beadle, the English teacher from The Unteachables. Revolutionary English teacher, Phil Beadle has caused raised eyebrows with activities such as the ‘dickhead game’ and Kung Fu punctuation and he’s here now to take your questions on the series…
Phil Beadle : Hello everybody!
Princess : Hi phil!
nicola1991 : why did you start teaching?
Phil Beadle : It was the last career refuge for a failed rock ‘n’roller.
Notata Dignum : Hi Phil, if you could change one thing about the current education system, what would it be?
Phil Beadle : I think I would probably pump loads of money into it thereby giving teachers time to actually plan brilliant lessons.
Lucy Piper : Hi Phil, so glad to get this opportunity to chat to you, I'm 23-year-old Youth Worker based in Derby City and I am currently battling the pen pushers at the top to allow me to work more using my drama skills. I am trained in dance and drama. How on Earth did you convince people to believe in you teaching methods??? And thanks for "dickhead" game, it worked like a dream!!!
Victoria Lazzari : I don't have a question, but a statement: you are an absolute legend! So inspiring, creative and moving. :)
Phil Beadle laughs
Phil Beadle : Thanks Lucy. The dickhead game has got me in all kinds of trouble, as has this programme, as regards to drama stuff I am of the belief that drama in a mainstream classroom, or indeed any classroom, is one of the predominant modes of learning. As regards to the people at the top, f**k 'em! Trust yourself, be brilliant and they will let you alone.
Amanda : wow i am really amazed about the turn around of the kids! You really did do a good job, did u feel proud?
Phil Beadle : In the case of four or five of them...yeah, but you must remember that TV is not a medium that tells the truth very often. Whilst I am very proud of Shane's achievements I am equally sad that Dale and Grace were not allowed such achievement.
Justemma : Given that most bad behaviour is learnt from a child's early years, does Phil think that a study camp for prospective parents on good child-rearing may be a good idea?
Phil Beadle : To a certain extent it's already set up and screwed by the time the secondary school teachers get there. I think if the government wanted to put some resources into something it would be at identifying children who are at risk at a much earlier age and pumping input into them then.
Mestiza : Did you feel that William's hard line on expulsions undermined what you were trying to do with the students?
Xenocide : Not a question as such, but just saying that the world needs more teachers like you. Just from the short series of programs I came away thinking that you're a solid chap with a warm heart. On behalf of all the kids, thanks!
Phil Beadle : Mr Atkinson is an absolutely top professional. He is the head of a very difficult inner-city school, who achieve grammar school results. I am merely a school teacher. To be arguing with the methods of one of the finest professionals in the education system would be an act of utter foolishness.
Annie : I wholeheartedly agree with the principles you are using looking at the learning and teaching styles and it is obvious that our present often-stilted education system has failed these teenagers. I wonder however if it may be unfortunately 'too late' for these children. I would be very interested to see what the results would be using the study camp idea with much younger children and would like to hear your views on this.
Phil Beadle : Yes I would agree with you Annie, utterly. I think putting input in when things have already fallen apart is probably well too late. Prevention is way better than cure.
Meg : i love your method of teaching you seem to have a knack relating to pupils, is that perhaps because you were once similarly disruptive when you were younger?
Phil Beadle : Nope - I was a cheeky boy, but a relatively compliant one. Having said that I did find them all very easy to like and if there is a secret to teaching I think that is it. There's something brilliant in every human being, you just have to find it and then tell him or her about it.
Cshaw : Does the fact that the most disruptive children were sent home indicate that the experiment was a failure? That they were in fact "unteachable".
Phil Beadle : They were not the most disruptive children - they were simply the ones who disagreed with their head teacher. Having said that I think in the most part it was probably a failure.
kookwultz and GavCradd : Hi, I've just started my PGCE (teaching training) in English. What 1 tip would you give me for my first lesson?
Phil Beadle : Smile!
gruff degwel : Do you feel that programmes such as this glorify disruptive children, when we should be focusing on praising the more co-operative pupils?
Phil Beadle : Yes, however, the more co-operative pupils don't really make for good tele. These tele programmes focus on conflict and you don't get a lot of conflict with a bunch of compliant pupils.
Spectral : I know that when my son is of schooling age I will be sending him to a private school. It will be a strain financially but I believe it to be necessary. Would/have you happily send your own children to a school where people like those featured on The Unteachables, disrupt and facilitate violent behaviour in a school environment?
Phil Beadle : My children go to the local non-denominational comprehensive. I think for middle-class people to send their children to private schools they are wasting their money. All they are doing is avoiding contact with the poor. The teaching in private schools is significantly less brilliant than you would find in a state school. I'm saddened by the fact that you're acting so obviously out of fear. Save your £12,000 a year and send them along to me and my mates. I promise they will learn.
Jedi Bobster : Do you think hat those who don't wish to be at school quite simply shouldn't be forced to go? Instead they can choose vocational education and/or jobs.
Phil Beadle : No they showed everything bad and very little of the good stuff.
Annie : I loved the reading Shakespeare to cows. Where did you get the idea?
Charlotte I am dealing with a young person who is behaving in an inappropriate manner towards staff. Other young people are now following the lead of this young person which has lead to this person now becoming personally abusive. Could you suggest any ideas to rectify this situation? or what action you would take against this young person in a group situation to help change this behaviour?
Phil Beadle : 1. Talk to them individually in private. 2. Go into a circle-time lesson and discuss sexual abuse/intimidation.
timmyb1985 : Where there any scenes that were too bad for the show itself?
Phil Beadle : I nicked it from an article in the Evening Standard about a school in which there were no rules whatsoever.
Weden : Any updates on what's happening to the kids now? IE. after filming?
Phil Beadle : Yeah, Shane has transformed his life and is a near model pupil, as is Grace. Dale is in all kinds of trouble. I believe Vicki has been excluded. Ben has been permanently excluded. So for us to go on claiming that it was a success would be a big fat fib.
gangsta jay : so phil did it upset you wen zaak sed them nice things bout you at the end of da programme
Phil Beadle : No I was deeply touched.
Angela : just to say it’s a shame there are not more teaches like you, the difference you made to those kids was amazing
Phil Beadle : There are. Around every corner there are coteries.
Chat Ed : That’s it, thanks for coming to our live chat everyone and thanks to Phil for staying up late to chat to us.
Phil Beadle : Thanks for your questions everyone. I better go because the off licence closes in half an hour!
Phil Beadle leaves the room
