Today we're going to talk about exams.
Suspended, could be months. This is my career done!
I can't stand this place! No wonder Mum couldn't wait to leave us!
- He's been sectioned. - Sadiq's gone bust.
We get taken over by a multi academy trust?!
Suck the life out of you.
I'm here for a meeting with the CEO.
The prom is quite important to some of you.
It's the most important night of the year.
Jord, you belong at home... with me.
_
Come on, we can't lose him.
- Where's it gone? - This way here!
THEY SHOUT TO EACH OTHER
Oi, what's going on?
Jordan! I thought we were chasing exam papers,
not flaming cat litter.
Oi, get out my van!
- Go on! Clear off! - Whoo!
- Synced and corrected by chamallow - - www.addic7ed.com -
Mrs Paracha!
Are you going to vote for Prom King and Queen?
I got loads to do with this bloody dinner dance prom thingy already.
You said it was a good idea.
That was before I were head caterer and bottle bloody washer.
Hey, Jordan! Jordan!
Hey, I were at the unit last night.
They're letting Dad out.
He reckons he's messed up. He's asked if you'd come home.
He asked you to ask me, did he?
Come on, don't leave me on me own with him.
He's spoken to the social workers.
He wants you to come home so that we can be a family again.
Jordan!
Jordan, you're being selfish.
What was the verdict?
The panel says that I am not
responsible for Riz' accident.
I'm a teacher again.
Great.
So...
what do you want to do? I mean, I've got cover till the end of term.
Or you can come back now?
I think I'll sit this term out.
Yeah.
How's the place been getting on without me?
Well...
it's exams and Ramadan, so it's manic,
verging on hysterical.
Er, yeah, so...
Oh.
Could've sworn this was my office.
You know Darren of course.
This is Barbara Hammer from The Valley Trust.
Mandy, I've heard so much about you.
Barbara got in touch last night wanting to meet... informally.
Can't get much more informal
than an ambush in your own office, can you?
So... how can we help you?
I think it's the other way round.
The ABC's problems are common knowledge.
This is a failing school.
Your intake for next year is down by 36 places
which means you're a quarter of a million pounds short
- on what you need to run the school. - Where did you hear that from?
Mr Nawaz's situation means he can't bail you out.
You can't afford to keep the school open
without selling off assets or major redundancies.
We can take over and cover your shortfall right now.
Won't you grab the lifeline, Mandy?
Our school is a bespoke academy
and it was set up to join the two communities of this town together.
Can you honestly tell me that your trust will respect that?
So, no, thank you.
We don't need your lifeline.
That answers my question.
You know where to find me when you've come to your senses.
When I got her e-mail I just wanted to say, "Get stuffed."
Yeah, we're not a carcass for the vultures just yet.
And 36, that's the new figure from yesterday.
Someone's fed them that. Someone here.
There's been an incident. Cat litter.
Trying to steal papers
from the exam board's van?
I've seen it all now.
There are no short cuts to GCSEs.
I'll be expecting you all to...
Is it funny, is it, Zain?
No, Miss.
Do you want to wait outside? We'll have a chat about why it isn't.
OK, Miss.
I'll be expecting you all to write apology e-mails
and send them to the cat litter company.
And I'll be calling your parents.
Understood?
ALL: Yes, Miss.
Right, back to class.
Jordan?
I thought you didn't care about your exams?
Well, I didn't, but I do now.
An art foundation course?
What, you found it on the internet yourself?
You do know that college is, like, two hours' drive down the motorway?
You'll have to move away from home for that.
Yeah, I know. That's why I chose it.
So what do you need to get in?
GCSEs.
Show them samples of my work.
Is that me?
It's actually quite good.
Do you think it's too late?
It's never too late to turn it round.
You should go and revise. Try hard.
KNOCK ON DOOR
Sorry to interrupt, Miss Carter.
Jordan, your new social worker's here.
OK.
Do it, Jordan.
You might surprise yourself.
See you later.
- He's not all bad, is he? - No.
- Right. Can you tannoy Mr Shah for me, please? - Yeah.
So your dad, Kevin Wilson, would like you home.
We've done an assessment, everything's fine.
Right, well, I don't want to go home.
Why not?
Look, you can't stay in foster care forever.
You just want me off your books, mate.
Costing too much money and that.
Well, let's see if there's any other options.
Your mum.
That's not an option.
- Are you sure? - Yes.
Is she still staying at that...
- what you call it? - Yeah, she's at...
What's so bad about your old man, then, hey?
Well, other than the fact that he batters me,
I'd probably say his cooking.
TANNOY BEEPS
Mr Shah to the office immediately, please.
Mr Shah's got detention!
- You wanted summat? - Yeah.
Have you been giving confidential information to the Valley Trust?
Yeah, I have.
Look that trust is our best hope.
You're burying your head in the sand.
This school needs a leader.
Oh, right. And that's you is it?
I mean, you don't care about anybody that works here,
- any of the students. No. - I don't.
Cos teaching isn't about bleeding hearts, Mandy.
It's about business. What I care about is my career
and I don't want to be part of a school that limps along
until the Department for Education has to put it out of its misery.
The staff need to be told that the school's in a hole.
There are going to be redundancies. There's got to be.
Listen, Javid, you leave the staff to me.
What you should be concentrating on is your students and their futures.
These kids haven't got a future!
High achievers from here will be lucky to trouble the McJob market.
That's us he's talking about.
You are unbelievable.
Every student in this school has potential.
- It's our job... - Come on!
Monkeys with calculators
could probably pass more GCSEs than my Year 11s.
This ship is sinking and you're taking us all down with it.
I'm not 'avin' this!
Whoa! Sit down!
OK, let's go. Let's go.
Oi, my bag! Someone get...
- Oi! You snobby git! - How dare you call us that?!
ID, please, Mr Shah.
- You're making a mistake. - I don't think she is.
- We heard you! - ALL: Yeah!
Well, you can stand by her
but I'd ask your headteacher
how she's going to pay your salaries next year.
Everybody, get back to class! Go! Now!
Sir.
Thank you, Jordan.
Think again about going to see your dad, eh?
Candice.
Do you reckon you could borrow your grandpa's car?
We'll get into trouble if we get caught with you driving.
Jordan?
See that woman serving drinks?
That's me mum, that.
Oh. Are you going to go see her?
- Come on. - No! What are you doing?
What we here for, then?
- Are you scared? - No.
Just... No, all right?
- Jordan? - No!
- I want to know if Mr Shah was telling the truth. - Everyone's bricking it, Mand.
- We have a right to know, Miss Carter. - Are we getting taken over?
- Was he telling the truth? - All right. All right!
Mr Shah will not be coming back.
He's been doing some underhand work for a trust
that's been trying to take over the school.
Are you... ? So... So we are in financial difficulty?
It's nothing out of the ordinary. I mean, we all know how the schools
are being squeezed by central government.
But does this squeeze mean redundancies?
Well, that's me gone. Sports is always first cut.
As far as I'm concerned, Mr Nawaz will stay as school sponsor
and we will remain independent.
- But what about our jobs? - You will still have jobs in September.
- I guarantee it. - Well, that's a relief.
Yeah. So...
right now, our year elevens are about to do their exams.
So shall we just get out there, shall we, and be positive?
Is he OK?
No.
Jordan?
She's your mum.
- She'd have been pleased to see you. - Do you reckon?
It's like exams. It's good to be nervous.
First day of exams.
Don't say owt but I've done loads of revision.
_
I've done a bit.
- _ - Same here.
_
I've done nothing. I'm in trouble.
- Same here, man. - _
I think I'll be OK. _
Mainly, I'm really hungry. You get what I mean?
EXCITED SCREAMING
I see Jack the Ripper's back.
She's just in to sit her exams.
We're still not talking.
She's your sister.
Why don't you sort it?
That's it, everyone. Pens down! Time's up.
You all right, love?
Um...
It's me.
Jordan.
Wilson.
I didn't recognise you.
I just wanted to come and see you.
I don't really, er...
remember you that much.
Dad's in hospital.
I... I'm in care at t'moment.
Cory wants me to go back home,
so I can help me dad, once he gets out of hospital.
I'm doing my GCSEs at t'moment.
What about you? You worked here long?
It's our pub. I own it with Ian, me bloke.
Him?
- So you live here then? - No.
I mean, we used to... flat upstairs, but we've got an 'ouse now.
Who lives in t'flat?
- No-one. - Could I?
Don't be daft.
Why not?
Because...
Because you just can't.
You've got an empty flat up there.
Stop it, Jordan.
I wouldn't be any hassle.
You're me mum.
I don't know you.
Look, I'm sorry, but you can't just turn up
and just expect after ten years like nothing happened.
I'm a different person now.
Back then, I didn't know owt.
I had to get away.
I was young.
You must understand.
Sarah? Everything all right?
You should go.
PULSE BEATS ON MONITOR
There's the heartbeat.
And the arms and legs.
It appears to be a healthy baby.
SHE SNIFFS
Mandy?
I've lied.
Excuse me, love. Can you just give us a second, please?
I lied to the staff.
Cos I told them their jobs were safe, and they're not.
SHE SOBS
With Sadiq broke,
there's been a new trust
sniffing about and throwing us a lifeline.
The staff might be safe, but the school...
They would change things.
- And the kids... - Mand,
when an academy gets taken over,
the old head is always first to go. I know.
We've got a kid on the way here. If both of us aren't working...
But you can teach again and, I mean, I'll get a job somewhere.
If your school's taken over, no-one's going to touch you.
If you want to keep your job, you...
you stick with Sadiq.
For once, just put yourself first.
I did really well! I wrote about 11 pages. Can you believe it?
How'd it go?
Miss guessed the right question on Romeo and Juliet...
we'd all practised it.
I can't help being a genius.
I do not bite my thumb at you, miss.
But I bite my thumb at you, miss!
Good call, Mum.
- You all right, Mand? - Yes, yeah.
I'm just proud of you, that's all. Well done.
- Isn't that right, Jordan? - What?
Your mum owns a pub.
Yeah.
Let's go! Celebrate.
Yeah, man.
- Why not? - Come on!
APPROACHING CHATTER
You all right, Mum?
Thought I'd bring some mates round, if that's all right.
- What's he doing here? - I'll sort it.
You're my new step-dad, then, I take it?
- Look here, son... - "Son"?
That's nice, innit? I'll tell you what then, Daddy,
can me and my mates have a round? We're out celebrating.
We've nearly finished our exams.
Look, I know who you are and I don't care.
Makes both of you then, don't it? Got something in common.
You can have a couple of soft drinks and then you go.
Jordan, please.
You hear that. My mum said we can have a drink...
- on the house! - THEY CHEER
Go on. Go on.
You ready?
Go on, go on!
INAUDIBLE
THEY CHEER
Right, you lot, that's it... out now! The lot of you, out!
- Calm down, we're only playing! - No, he's right, out! I've had enough.
So soon?
- I've only just back in to your life? - Oi, shut it, out!
Make me.
- Make you? - EXCITED CHATTER
Get off me!
THEY ALL SHOUT AND CHATTER
Get off! Get off me!
Get off him, pal. Off him!
- What's wrong with you?! - You're what's wrong with me.
Your dad brought you up. This is all him.
You were nothing to do with me. And you're just like him.
- Shut up! - Jordan, don't.
Nah, don't talk about my dad, yeah,
when he did everything he could for us...
put a roof over our head, fed us, cared for us.
But it wasn't you, were it?!
- And I always hated him for that. - Come on, Jordan. She's not worth it.
- Nah. - Come on, man.
I blamed him cos you weren't there
and now I'm glad you weren't,
- cos you're a selfish bitch, mate. - Come on, Jordan.
- Shut your mouth! - Candice, come on.
What were it you said to me t'other day?
That... that you were young and you just couldn't cope?
I were young, Mum!
I were six years old!
- Hurry up! - Jordan, come on!
Come on. Come on.
Guys, come on, get yourself inside.
GLASS SMASHES
DOOR CREAKS OPEN
DOOR SLAMS
Jordan.
It's OK.
She said that Jordan and some mates were round causing trouble.
You were lucky the fire were put out.
- Can I see him? - He's asleep, Officer.
Did he just come in?
- No, he's been in all night. - What time did he come in?
He got back during Corrie, so...
I can't believe you saw Mum.
- There ain't a problem, is there? - How was she?
- We're just following up. - OK, yeah.
Goodnight.
- Goodnight, Mr Wilson. - DOOR SLAMS
How come you didn't tell them?
Cos you're my son.
Hey.
Are you just going to ignore me forever?
What have you actually got against lesbians?
Nothing.
But how come I was the last to know?
- I thought we spoke about everything. - We do but...
I didn't want you to be stuck with a secret
that you didn't know what to do with.
I'm sorry. I am sorry.
I miss you.
I miss you too.
I didn't want to hurt you.
OK?
Now can we be roommates again, please?
Well, Nana's snoring has made me fail every exam so far...
- so, yeah. - Yes.
And I'll talk to Mum and I'll talk to Miss Carter,
so that you can get to go to prom again.
And your time begins now.
Are we doing the right thing?
Clinging on to this school?
This trust, they can't be trusted. We need to hold out.
But the term's nearly over and we're still short of year sevens.
We just don't have the funds for next year.
I'll find the money.
I've got contacts. Someone in this town will want to help.
Sadiq, this whole town is skint.
I know.
This big trust, they won't care about why we set this place up.
- They don't care about our kids. - I know. I know.
I just think it's better for our kids to have a school
than to have no school whatsoever.
We should take the lifeline from the trust.
OK. Time's up. Put your pens down, please.
And that, everyone, is the end of your GCSEs.
CHEERING
Well done.
Now that exams are over, I need a date for prom.
I'll pick you up at 5:30 tomorrow.
Dress nice.
Jordan, you've barely written in your paper,
No point, is there, Miss?
I'm not going anywhere, am I?
Where's my other shoe?
- Whose is this bloody earring? - Oh, I've been looking for that.
OK. Let's all go and have a great time.
- Don't forget me. - Missy, you look beautiful.
Oh, thanks.
- HORN BLARES - Riz!
- Oh! I hope he's wearing a tux! - Remember, play it cool, like we said.
I am Hayley Booth. I'm super-cool.
Oh, my DAYS!
Oh, mind me neck. Mind me neck!
SCREAMING: His halo's off!
What's with all the screaming?
SHE SCREAMS
- Oh, wow! - Oh, my God!
SCREAMING
That is so amazing.
SCREAMING
What?
Whoa.
Come on, make yourself useful.
I've got to Instagram this.
Right.
- Say, "Cheesy feet!" - Cheesy feet!
Come on.
Get your bloody outfit on, you're going to miss it all.
That's the idea.
Do one.
Oh but...
- Saleem, are you going to be OK? - Yeah.
Who needs prom?
Who needs pizza?
Whoa! SHE GIGGLES
Oh, my goodness.
- You like it? - I love it.
Oh, thanks.
Oh, thank you.
Oh, and thank you.
Yeah, that's just what I wanted.
Good evening, Ackley Bridge year elevens!
CHEERING
I'd just like to say how...
How incredibly proud I am of you all.
- CHEERING - Sir! Sir! Hang on a second.
Hang on. Excuse me, Miss.
Right, it's my turn, eh?
This school is brilliant!
I thank you for having the idea
of putting us together and believing in us.
- CHEERING - Browns and whites.
I'm going to be honest. This time last year,
I didn't know any white people...
that weren't ordering curry off me dad.
- LAUGHTER - But now look.
I've got loads of white mates!
And, your dad gives us curry for free!
LAUGHTER
Well, I want everybody to say it with me.
"Ack! Ack! Ack!"
THEY CHANT ALONG
Yo, Mr Simpson! Let's get this party started!
MUSIC: Mandian To Bach Ke by Panjabi MC
- Wow! - Yeah, I know, I did not expect that.
Come on, sir.
Listen, I've been thinking about next year.
I'm getting a job.
I can start at Lidl as soon as I want.
Stacking shelves,
and our kid says I can sublet his flat.
Jamie loves you,
and he already thinks that
you're his dad anyway so...
- No, no, no, no. - maybe we could try again...
- Jordan? - No, I'm not staying here
with you or anyone else!
Look at you all, mate.
Pathetic!
Who are you trying to kid?
You've got nothing and you're going nowhere!
It's all a lie. Can't you see that?
Our teachers have got a job cos we keep on squirting out kids.
They're just going to do same to next bunch.
Tell' em! Mandy.
Come on, tell' em truth!
Fancy dress night for one night.
There no more dreams left for us, mate.
Jordan.
Jordan! Jordan.
- Jordan, calm down! - You just don't get it, do you?
I'm trapped here.
Every time I try and do something,
- I just blow it. - No, you don't.
- Yeah. - You don't.
I tried to burning my mum's pub down...
and me dad had to lie to coppers...
for me.
So, now, I can't leave.
Dad's ill.
I need to be home.
Come on. Come on, let's talk.
Come here.
It was a stupid thing to do that, the pub.
I mean, you could really have hurt someone.
You could have ruined the rest of your life.
And you're wrong, you know.
What you said in the hall.
You can dream.
I wouldn't be doing my job if kids like you
didn't dream of having a better life.
I tried, Miss.
It don't work any more.
Don't say that, Jordan.
Come on.
I've got enough dreams for the both of us.
FOOTSTEPS
So you've come to your senses.
I want The Valley Trust to take over.
Everyone thought we were mad opening up this integrated school.
But this school works.
If I can't continue to make it work, then...
I really hope you can.
We'll take good care of it, I promise.
Do we have a deal?
There you go, love.
That's yours there.
Hello. Morning.
Come on!
Jordan Wilson.
- I passed! Four for everything. - Oh, well done, Missy!
Me too!
Well done! You both did brilliantly!
Level eight in English Language and English Literature!
GIRLS SQUEAL AND LAUGH
Jordan?
Miss Carter told me you stunk the place out with your exams.
I'm taking you for a drive.
Do I need to ring Childline, sir?
Get in.
You trying to rub it in, sir?
Miss Carter told me what you said at Prom.
She's got you an interview.
Here's your portfolio.
What do I say?
You say, "I really want to be on this course.
It's the only course I've ever been excited by.
My life will be complete if you take me in."
Jordan, this could change your life.
They've got halls. You could move out.
Come on, just really give it a go. Come on.
Come on.
Why do you want to do our Art Foundation?
I just really like art and that.
Who are your favourite artists? Who inspires you?
I don't know. I like, erm...
graffiti and that.
Anyone in particular?
Dunno. Erm...
Can I look at your work?
Yeah.
I really want to do this course.
Erm, because...
It's really good.
Is this you?
Yeah. I, er, I do a few of my teachers.
That's my head teacher. Miss Carter.
She, er, acts like she's a right bossy but she's not,
she's sound in real life.
That's it, then, innit?
I'm a failure. I've blown that.
- Come on. You don't mean that. - Yeah, I do.
PHONE RINGS
Jordan.
Hello.
Thank you.
They've offered you a place.
You have to re-sit Maths and English,
but you'll be on the course by the time you do them.
You're in!
Whoa, whoa!
Get in!
What about Dad?
You've just moved home. He needs you.
This is a proper course at a college. It's a good thing.
This college has got a room for me.
It's selfish!
That's what it is.
Am I being selfish?
Sometimes being selfish is the right thing to do.
It'll work for you.
Just like it did for Mum?
Yeah.
Like it did for Mum.
If you go quietly,
I'm sure they can give you a good reference.
Judas.
Er, right.
You could have at least let me clear my desk first.
Mandy...
We want you to stay.
You do? Erm... Why?
Continuity.
You've proved very resourceful.
The GCSE results for a new school
with this catchment area are encouraging.
If we could bottle what you've done
we'd take over every school in the country.
So you still want me to be head?
Yes.
We want you to work for us and continue what you're doing.
It's a new era for Ackley Bridge College
and I think you have a great future with The Valley Trust.
So what do you say?
Erm...
- This everything? - Yeah.
Well, look after yourself.
Yeah.
Just give us a ring when you can, yeah?
He's nearly as stubborn as you.
Come here.
I'll see you, son.
- See you later. - Yeah.
Jordan!
Jordan, stop the car!
I'm going to miss you.
I'll come back.
Don't.
Someday I want to walk into that town centre
and I want to see a book or a painting
or a comic or whatever
and I want to say that our kid did that.
So don't come back.
Just go and be brilliant.
OK?
I love you.
I love you too, man.
Be safe.
Ready?
Yeah, man.
MISSY HUMS A TUNE
Erm, OK, what is with the dressing gown?
I'm going to be in sixth-form!
Oh, my God! That's amazing.
- I know. - Oh, well done. Have a drink!
BOTH: Whoo-ooh!
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