I am Bovvered

The excellent results that the Serendipity programme has been able to achieve has taken place because of the time the teachers and head of the unit spend in really getting to know the girls and relating to them from a position of Trust and respect. In my opinion, if only more teachers would routinely do this we'd have alot less exclusions than is currently the case.

Abiola, SmartzLeadership

At last, some kind person has realised that this country has major problems with disaffected youth that are not going to fit into mainstream education. Not just that, this is a major widescale problem, even with kids in 'normal' homes, they are not willing to be educated. I particularly homed into Sue's comments about personal believing to be uplifting. I was always classed as stupid at school, and I came from a 'normal' loving family....... but later on in later years, I did a degree and realised that yes, I am capable, and that is from a loving family background, measure that against the terrible upbringings these girls have had to surmount. Now I am a teacher, I can fully realise the difficulties that children face. Sue is doing a very worthwhile job, probably a thankless one, but that is teaching, you get your rewards in little ways.
Keep going Sue, I am with you ALL the way.

We need more teachers like Sue Tinson!

Having watched this several times, I am moved and inspired by the teaching staff and the wondeful Lady at the head of it all! Like Sue I went through the care system never daring to believe that one day I could achieve. I am about to embark on a new challenge teaching children in care with varying problems, resulting in the dimise of their mainstream education. I am excited and nervous but having watched this I am hopeful that I can have a postive impact on a child' life!

God bless Sue Tinson. She has commitment, love, empathy, respect and, above all, vision. I found the programme tremendously hopeful and heart-rending. But there is a way out if there's someone you can trust. Great.

I like the approach of helping children in a more personal setting. I think that in a main stream school teachers do not have the time, resources and the training to make an enormous difference in the life of trouble children. What most of them need desperately is a family. But why are our taxes not enough to support these children?
Wouldnt it be easier and cheaper for society to have more of these centres? Would it be better to help these desperate children away from the ones that are already motivated, supported and learning? I think this private education with specialized tutors could make a big difference for everybody.
However, how many of us want to invest £500 000 of our own pocket? Or would you rather spend it in your own children private education?

Quite a moving programme, higlighting how girls are often under supported with BESDs. It shows such a gap in our proovision and great commitment by the staff and the Head.It speaks volumes that these girls are attending because they are getting the support they need, personalised learning which we hear a lot about but most schools do not have the time, flexiblity or resources.

I enjoyed watching the clip and could understand the thinking, that we need to build relationships, for pupils to be able to relate to us, as people, before we can exspect them to trust us, so we can teach them. Too much pressure is put on following a time table. So everything is about deadlines not about learning. We talk about barriers to learning ! How much time do we really take to remove them.

This is an excellent idea that starts with the most basic premise of building relationships to allow learning to take place. The personal sections from the girls are heart-breaking and maybe every DCSF person should watch this to really understand what education is about.

superb. how many such centres would we need around the country and how much money would we save if we saved these young people NOW from chronic health problems, the social services networks and prison?