I watched this with interest, as an ex-teacher, bit like the previous Secret Millionaire programme.
In the first episode an English teacher was trying to teach 2 classes (60 students) together in the library with no board due to not having enough teachers. My head teacher suggested that I do this when we were struggling to get good maths teachers, she wanted me to teach the 2 classes in the hall, she did offer to set up a board, give me teaching assistant and a microphone! I refused! How can you give students one to one help in that situation? The programme clearly shows the results of lack of investment in schools with poor buildings and over worked support staff. I agree with the second head teachers comments about schools being all about GCSEs, & not about the students lives. Recent changes to GCSEs to make them more challenging & removal of coursework have really increased the stress on students. It is shame that schools no longer aim to develop the whole person & that massive emphasis is put on the GCSE grades. In my final school, students in year 11 now have to attend revision lessons in academic subjects almost every day after school, in effect an extra lesson, what about drama clubs, art clubs, PE clubs?
I too would be interested to see how the students respond to the opportunities they are given.