Mr Drew's School for Boys...

[Raffles]

I intended to watch this from the first episode on CH4, two weeks ago, but forgot, and again the second. But tonight I watched the third and came away with great respect for the teachers of these troubled youngsters. A bit like 'Educating Yorkshire' but where all the lads are 'real trouble'.

The patience that's required, when an untrained person would just want to give them a slap, was incredible. I know it was probably heavily edited for TV but the message at the end, after a defeat in a local footie match where they were all smiling and shaking hands with the opposition was heart warming. Previously they were kicking 'seven bells' out of each other when just training.

[chykensa]

As a professional in the education sector, Mr. Drew is a shining example of how to teach effectively. He has great compassion and respect for his charges, and understands just how to treat these problem children to give them the chance to re-engage with school life.
My wife and I maintain that he could do just so much better than a certain Education Secretary at the moment!!

[vigowomble]

It has been a very good series Raffles. You can always get the other two episodes on 4OD. I would recommend looking out for Educating Essex on 4OD too, which was the original series, before Educating Yorkshire, where Mr Drew was the headmaster. Totally agree chykensa

[jackcustard]

Was Mr drew the head on the Essex one or was he deputy? I think he is a head now but wasn't then. Not sure...

As a teacher (25 years old with three good to outstanding inspections at three different schools in 5years, although they aren't worth nada because the organisation they are from are utter drivel) the lack of respect is my main concern in education at the moment. Not only from the children in general but also from the upper echelons of the government looking down, and parents/parts of society to an extent... because you always get the one parent that thinks they know best and undo all the hard work you do through the day on working on respect by letting their kids run free on evenings and weekends.

We need need to stop comparing school to school, nation to nation and forget about levels and league tables because before they were around we did well enough (didn't we have an empire at one point? Was Mr g.... needed?) with out of/100 or a-e levelling. We don't need sub-levels, assessment for learning or app's. What we need is respect. And until Mr G.... can't bear to say his name... realises that then we have nothing...

[vigowomble]

Yes, sorry jackcustard, you're right, he was the deputy head in EE.