‘A special school’ airs on BBC Two, BBC Cymru Wales and iPlayer

Posted on 18 January 2023 • Education, Education, languages and health, TV and radio

Two academics from The Open University used their specialist skills to advise the BBC programme makers on a second series of A Special School, which airs on BBC Two on 20th February at 7pm.

The three-part series goes behind the scenes in a compelling observational documentary that shows what is possible when boundaries are pushed.

View the entire series on iPlayer and watch as the staff and pupils push boundaries and challenge misconceptions in this infectiously positive series that will leave you smiling, laughing and crying. 

Dr Wendy Turner, Senior Lecturer in the School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care and Leigh Worrall, PGCE Curriculum Tutor for The Open University in Wales, both brought their differing academic expertise to inform the programme makers.

Leigh, a teacher of 17 years, said:

“We advised on the possible storylines to follow, building on what was highlighted in the first series. I was particularly interested in showing the educational journey, both within and outside the classroom, at this school.

“I’ve worked mainly in mainstream but was very interested in highlighting the successful approaches used in this setting, which would be of interest to the audience and are applicable across different educational settings.”

Leigh said this applied to fostering positive wellbeing, supporting pupils returning to school after covid and managing conflict and behaviour.

“Within Wales there has been significant education reform over the last few years with the introduction of a new Curriculum for Wales alongside an Additional Learning Needs transformational programme and it was useful to bring my knowledge about this to the film makers,” she said.

The programme also covered what it’s like to train as a teacher in a special school setting and highlighted the varied roles and opportunities that exist to contribute to children’s lives.

Wendy has worked as a healthcare professional with children with Additional Learning Needs and Disabilities for more than 20 years in their homes, schools and communities.

She said:

“Many of these children, as seen in the broadcast, have complex and multiple health needs that might be hidden such as emotional or mental health, physical or chronic health issues.

“By supporting these health needs enables children to get the most out of school life. My higher education teaching crosses the boundaries of health, education and social care in developing multi-skilled professionals ready to support, advocate and care for these children and their families.”

Wendy was able to provide advice to the programme makers through a multi-needs lens, highlighting the varied roles, need for extensive skills and knowledge of the whole child and their family.

This series was commissioned by Broadcast & Partnerships and is supported by the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies, with particular relevance to Q94 BA (Honours) Education Studies (Primary), Q42 BA (Honours) Social Work (Wales) and K36 PGCE in Wales:

• Commissioned by Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Head of Broadcast & Partnerships
• Academic Consultants: Leigh Worrall and Dr Wendy Turner
• Media Fellows: Dr Erica Borgstrom and Simon Rea
• Broadcast Project Manager: Clair Robinson
• Supporting online content: Andrew Hudson

Supporting Online content:

Visit the Broadcast & Partnerships website where you will find three short films focusing on different aspects of the school not explored in the series:

1. Early Intervention – how the school is helping children learn social and communication skills
2. A piece on new and experienced teachers talking about their journey at the school
3. Life After Ysgol y Deri – an examination of how the school supports pupils into further education and work

Picture credit: ©Slam Media