One of the teen teachers and his pupils By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine What happens when teenagers are given a chance to set up and run their own school - will it be academic excellence or anarchy all round?
One of the teen teachers and his pupils By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine What happens when teenagers are given a chance to set up and run their own school - will it be academic excellence or anarchy all round?
Children are forever bemoaning school and the education system - so what if they were put in charge? Would it be lessons in texting and binge drinking, a school disco every night?
Children are forever bemoaning school and the education system - so what if they were put in charge? Would it be lessons in texting and binge drinking, a school disco every night?
One brave social experiment tried to find out, putting a group of teenagers in complete charge of a school and a bunch of lively 12-year-olds for three weeks over the summer.
One brave social experiment tried to find out, putting a group of teenagers in complete charge of a school and a bunch of lively 12-year-olds for three weeks over the summer.
Bilal Ayonote, one of the teachersSome barely able to pack their own lunchbox, the youngsters found themselves having to manage a budget, feed their pupils, organise activities, entertain and deliver a curriculum that covered academic and creative subjects.
Bilal Ayonote, one of the teachersSome barely able to pack their own lunchbox, the youngsters found themselves having to manage a budget, feed their pupils, organise activities, entertain and deliver a curriculum that covered academic and creative subjects.
Like any normal school, there were regular inspections to make sure they were maintaining standards. The pupils also had to sit final exams to see if they'd learned much. It was a tall order - especially since the teens were living under the same roof 24 hours a day.
Like any normal school, there were regular inspections to make sure they were maintaining standards. The pupils also had to sit final exams to see if they'd learned much. It was a tall order - especially since the teens were living under the same roof 24 hours a day.
Counter perceptions
Counter perceptions
Attempting to rewrite the rules of education is nothing new. At the UK's most famous "progressive" school, Summerhill in Suffolk, pupils have been able to choose if they want to go to lessons and decide the school rules since 1921.
Attempting to rewrite the rules of education is nothing new. At the UK's most famous "progressive" school, Summerhill in Suffolk, pupils have been able to choose if they want to go to lessons and decide the school rules since 1921.
Hannah became head teacherBut this experiment, for a BBC Three documentary, was all about the young teaching the young. Those behind it wanted to see if there was anything the educational establishment could learn from teenagers who thought they could do a better job than their teachers.
Hannah became head teacherBut this experiment, for a BBC Three documentary, was all about the young teaching the young. Those behind it wanted to see if there was anything the educational establishment could learn from teenagers who thought they could do a better job than their teachers.
Thousands applied to take part, and the final 12 were chosen because of their radical ideas for changing the education system. All had a point to prove. One left school after getting pregnant at 16. Some were passionate about giving pupils a voice, others were motivated by their own school experience.
Thousands applied to take part, and the final 12 were chosen because of their radical ideas for changing the education system. All had a point to prove. One left school after getting pregnant at 16. Some were passionate about giving pupils a voice, others were motivated by their own school experience.
For Bilal Ayonote, a 17-year-old insurance clerk from London, it was to challenge the negative view of teenagers in the UK.
For Bilal Ayonote, a 17-year-old insurance clerk from London, it was to challenge the negative view of teenagers in the UK.
"Young, black boys in London do get a bad reputation. When you see them in a group you always think they're up to no good," he says.
"Young, black boys in London do get a bad reputation. When you see them in a group you always think they're up to no good," he says.
"I'd like to be a role model to the younger kids, show them what you see in the news, with all the stabbings and all of that, is not where we have to go. We can do something really good, we are the leaders of tomorrow."
"I'd like to be a role model to the younger kids, show them what you see in the news, with all the stabbings and all of that, is not where we have to go. We can do something really good, we are the leaders of tomorrow."
Sam Wadey, 17, from Bournemouth, dropped out of his A-level studies. He says his teachers had no drive and saw it as a nine-to-five job.
Sam Wadey, 17, from Bournemouth, dropped out of his A-level studies. He says his teachers had no drive and saw it as a nine-to-five job.
"We all volunteered for the experiment because we believed our school would be more relevant than a conventional one," he says.
"We all volunteered for the experiment because we believed our school would be more relevant than a conventional one," he says.
Life lessons
Life lessons
Just like their teen teachers, the pupils had high hopes about what their new school could teach them. From a local primary school, the children gave up a large chunk of their summer holiday because they believed the teens could teach them something new.
Just like their teen teachers, the pupils had high hopes about what their new school could teach them. From a local primary school, the children gave up a large chunk of their summer holiday because they believed the teens could teach them something new.
Teens were from around the UKThe only help on hand came in the form of educationalist Jackie Beere, a former head teacher who advised the teens throughout.
Teens were from around the UKThe only help on hand came in the form of educationalist Jackie Beere, a former head teacher who advised the teens throughout.
"The team had massive potential, were all intelligent, caring and full of energy, apart from first thing in the morning," she says.
"The team had massive potential, were all intelligent, caring and full of energy, apart from first thing in the morning," she says.
But it was a steep learning curve, with some unsurprising issues.
But it was a steep learning curve, with some unsurprising issues.
"It was disappointing at first that many of them were too wrapped up in the social side of things," says Ms Beere.
"It was disappointing at first that many of them were too wrapped up in the social side of things," says Ms Beere.
And when one teen teacher quit, it looked like life after the school bell had rung was going to be more anarchic than class time.
And when one teen teacher quit, it looked like life after the school bell had rung was going to be more anarchic than class time.
Leaders broken
Leaders broken
In an unexpected twist, the teen teachers initially fell back on traditional subjects and teaching methods, despite their big ambitions to teach subjects like human rights.
In an unexpected twist, the teen teachers initially fell back on traditional subjects and teaching methods, despite their big ambitions to teach subjects like human rights.
Tom hated the 'hoodie' label"We realised how tied they were to the traditions of the academic education they had experienced," says Ms Beere. "When they felt threatened they became quite conservative."
Tom hated the 'hoodie' label"We realised how tied they were to the traditions of the academic education they had experienced," says Ms Beere. "When they felt threatened they became quite conservative."
To stand any chance of success, the teenagers had to survive all the struggle and pain that comes with working as a team. Intense relationships were made and broken, leaders came and went.
To stand any chance of success, the teenagers had to survive all the struggle and pain that comes with working as a team. Intense relationships were made and broken, leaders came and went.
They also found the constant demands on them frustrating and exhausting in equal measure.
They also found the constant demands on them frustrating and exhausting in equal measure.
"But it was fantastic to see how they grew in confidence. The learning going on was also by the teenagers about themselves. I think one of the most important things they learned was the potential they have to influence others," Ms Beere says.
"But it was fantastic to see how they grew in confidence. The learning going on was also by the teenagers about themselves. I think one of the most important things they learned was the potential they have to influence others," Ms Beere says.
This realisation built strong bonds between the teenagers and their students.
This realisation built strong bonds between the teenagers and their students.
"These feisty teens grew very strong indeed - they switched from learners to teachers when they realised the kids looked up to them and wanted to be in their school," she says.
"These feisty teens grew very strong indeed - they switched from learners to teachers when they realised the kids looked up to them and wanted to be in their school," she says.
Did the teens teach the professionals anything? Yes, mainly how youngsters want to take more responsibility for their learning rather than just being lectured at, says Ms Beere. When the teens and their pupils were allowed to take risks, they responded well.
Did the teens teach the professionals anything? Yes, mainly how youngsters want to take more responsibility for their learning rather than just being lectured at, says Ms Beere. When the teens and their pupils were allowed to take risks, they responded well.
One thing's for sure - it was a real education for everyone involved.
One thing's for sure - it was a real education for everyone involved.
The first and second episodes of Leave Us Kids Alone will be broadcast on BBC Three at 1930 BST and 2230 BST on 17 October.
The first and second episodes of Leave Us Kids Alone will be broadcast on BBC Three at 1930 BST and 2245 BST on 17 October.
I had always thought that teaching (young) children is a skill. From spotting, diagnosing, and remedying problems (both academic and more personal ones) to having a good command of the subjects to teach to being able to make the lessons interesting. In addition to that being able to provide responsible gym (which is more than just given a class a football and showing them the goal posts). What do those teens know about how to deal with a dyslexic child? Or with a hyper-active one? Do they just smack them? And do they know how to spell? How to explain grammar rules? How to let the children they are supposed to teach develop? Do they know first aid? Supposing a child falls down, breaks his glasses and gets an eye-full of glass. Would the teens know how to react? Enthusiasm and care are all very well - if not essential - but a combination of enthusiasm, care, and know-how will beat plain enthusiasm any day of the week.Golodh, London
The most interesting thing is to see how these teenagers address the issue of behaviour. Will they use a discipline based approach, a soft approach or a combination of the two? If they don't create an appropriate environment in which people feel safe, there's going to be people who miss out on learning. Karl Chads, London, UK
I've noticed for years that teachers are so concerned about 'teaching' that they don't realise that the pupils have interests over and above the subjects taught in the curriculum. It would be nice to work in a school where the job of the teacher is to advise the pupils to learn for themselves and to give direction to the child's own ambitions rather than pushing them into the conventional education system. It's true that most pupils look up to older teens more than to teachers, and this influence could be used to benefit everyone in the education establishment. I'd like to see how this information could be used in the future.Heather, Willenhall
There are hundreds of schools and organisations in the UK where teenagers take an active role in leadership and teaching. My school had a system of "monitors" and "house captains" and there are also organisations like the Cadet Force of Scouts and Guides. When will people stop patronising teenagers and thinking they are incapable of producing anything worthwhile? If one of the teachers is capable of leaving school to have a baby at 16 then it should be no surprise that she is capable of teaching a few lessons to some 12-year-olds.Duncan, Pokhara, Nepal
The main thing we have to do is teach kids to be interested in learning for its own sake, to really engage with the world and take personal responsibility (unlike so many adults) - which it seems this experiment managed in under a month.Kaz, Macclesfield, UK
The main thing we have to do is teach kids to be interested in learning for its own sake, to really engage with the world and take personal responsibility (unlike so many adults) - which it seems this experiment managed in under a month.Kaz, Macclesfield, UK
I agree but a lot of young adults that go to university and the on to the PGCE have all the energy and enthusiasm and great ideas to get kids learning and wanting to learn. But eventually there is a struggle between the new and the old way of teaching. Summer schools are an extremely good thing to do but they need a specific fund for them to help pupils with maths, English and science which can be balanced around fun activities and visits.Rae, Maidenhead
Learning is for life. School is just the start of their learning career. It would be fantastic if kids/young adults were taught to believe in themselves and that belief engendered an idea that they are in control of their lives and their futures!Ruth, London, England
I'm a newish University Lecturer, I hope this will enthuse my next first year undergraduate intake to become more involved & interested in their own studies - the minority do but it is always a challenge to make that the majority.Jamie, Stoke-on-Trent
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