Unteachables
What do the kids from The Unteachables think of the project? Has it changed their attitudes to learning?
We talk to Kirsty, Ryan, Finbar and Shane.
Kirsty
Kirsty, who has been suspended from school in the past, particularly enjoyed the day when she worked as a teacher herself, with nursery children.
How was the project?
'This experience was well good and I would love to do it again. I love working with kids and it's been a great experience with all you lot [those involved with the TV series]. I'm still the same Kirsty, [it has] just changed little bits about me. My attitude has changed but I still feel the same way in some things. I have grown up and understand that I shouldn't be doing this [earlier behaviour and attitude to school] or I'll just f**k up my life totally. And now I want to do something with my life.'
How did the team influence you?
'Phil's way of teaching was well good – keeps you interested. If school was like the study camp it would definitely be so much better.'
What about the future?
'Now I want to buckle down, get all my GCSEs and go to college to study childcare. Five months ago I didn't want to do anything. I've got a lot of ambition. I just don't think I realised it until now.'
'You can teach history as a rather boring set of facts in chronological order, or you can tell a story in an almost filmic way. That was what Mr Field did. When a teacher is really good, children will forget they are in a class' – Judge Jules, DJ
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Ryan
Ryan's attitude in class was to have a laugh and always be the centre of attention. But this has caused him problems.
How was the project?
'More sociable [than school]. Meeting new people gives you more experience. You learn something new every day. And everyone was individually different so you learned a lot from everyone.'
How did the team influence you?
'Chris, the youth worker, was an inspiration to me. It's still in my head what he taught me about climbing to achieve your goals. I didn't really listen [to William, the head teacher] when he was talking to us all as an audience. But on my own I did take a lot from him.'
What about the future?
'Everything needs to change – bunking, interrupting and leaving the classroom with my mates and stuff. When I go back to school I'm not going to swear because you just get into trouble for it and it's not worth it. Creating attention to myself, making an idiot of myself – it's not fair on everyone else who wants to work if everyone is just looking at me. It's rude, isn't it? It means a lot to me to go to college. I think I'm going to be one of the first people in my family to go to college. I've got to make myself a goal and achieve that goal.'
'One [of the girls I taught] started smoking in a drama lesson and I remember feeling quite proud of myself for persuading her to smoke near a window' – Nick Hornby, novelist and ex-teacher
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Finbar
Finbar, by his own admission, was quite lazy, a bit of a daydreamer and very unfocused.
How was the project?
'I think a small group helps you to be more focused and see where you are going wrong. I'm more aware of classroom stuff. And it's taught me a few things. I reckon I'm still quite lazy and a bit of a daydreamer. It's just that I'm being tweaked, it's a little bit different. I'm more of an aware lazy person now. I suppose my confidence has risen quite a bit – but most of this stuff is subconscious and I can't really talk about it.'
How did the team influence you?
Vivian [the educational psychologist] said things that made you think; might change your actions or something a little bit.'
What about the future?
'I've always wanted to achieve something but I've been sloppy about it. My ultimate goal is to be doing something I enjoy. I'll just set myself reasonable standards [for his GCSE exams] – maybe a few Cs, maybe high in some things and lower in some things.'
Shane
Shane is a sociable person. He likes running around with his mates – sometimes getting into trouble with the police.
How was the project?
'I have changed quite a lot. Confidence in learning, that's grown a bit as well. Not as much as my confidence in myself. But writing, yeah. Out of this whole project I have actually learned a few things. I saw teachers I respected.'
How did the team influence you?
'The youth workers were proper decent. Phil [the teacher] was the best part of it. I did the best poem [in his class]. He's the only “sweet as” male teacher I've ever met. If I had Phil in my form I'd be “sweet as”. He let me write slower. There should be more teachers like Phil, but he's a one-off.'
What about the future?
'Well, I think my future's gonna go alright. I'm going to try my hardest. I'm going to try to be on time. I'm going to be in class most of the time. I would like to learn a lot from school so I can teach my kids. I want my kids to have a good education.'
'My favourite teacher … was Debbie Page, the PE teacher. She was always there and always giving loads of advice and encouragement. I don't know what it was about her that was so special, but I suppose she was just good at her job – brilliant at it, in fact' – Kelly Holmes, Olympic athlete
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