Boys of Ballikinrain, The (2 Parts)

Synopsis

Ballikinrain is a residential school near Stirling catering for 30 boys with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties from the age of eight upwards who have been removed from their own homes either for their own protection or because they have been deemed out of control. Many of the boys have been kicked out of mainstream education,and Ballikinrain hopes to turn their lives around. Filmed over two years, the producers of this programme had to go through an exhaustive process of liaison with social work departments around the country as well as the school itself, the children and their families. (2 x 60 minutes)

Part 1, STOLEN CHILDHOODS, finds out why the boys are at Ballikinrain from their own own perspective, as well as that of their parents and the staff. In the Dumgoyne Unit, Paul turns thirteen and for the first time since he arrived his parents come up to visit him, just as Ryan and Steven are creating havoc for the staff. Marco is given good news - if he continues to do well he will be allowed to move school and be allowed to go home at night. As well as the core of boys featured, contributors span staff and family members, and the cameras pan from the classrooms to the woodlands, surrounding the school, where street smart city kids can be seen housed in a castle surrounded by acres of farmland - an environment many have never encountered before.

Part 2, MOVING ON, follows the progress of the three boys. The cameras have been following Bradley, Steven and Ryan, who are all aged 12 for over a period of eight months. Bradley has some good news, his estranged father has established contact with him. They have been getting to know each other through supervised meetings with a social worker in the hope that one day Bradley will be able to leave the school and join his father in London. Meanwhile Ryan’s mother meets with social workers and teachers to discuss whether he should become a day pupil or remain as a resident at the school, with extended weekend leave. Steven continues to struggle with his temper and immaturity, and requires special one-to-one attention before he can even think about leaving the school. We also hear from teachers, fellow pupils and parents about life at Ballikinrain.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2010

Year of production

2007

Availability

OUT OF DISTRIBUTION

Notes

Broadcast on BBC2 Scotland beginning 19/2/2007

Subjects

Education; Social welfare

Keywords

behaviour modification; children in care; residential schools; special needs education

Credits

Director

Stephen Bennett

Production Company

Name

Saltire Film & TV Productions

Distributor

Name

Teachers’ TV

Email

info@teachers.tv

Web

http://www.teachers.tv/ External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7182 7430

Address

6-18 Berners Street
London
W1T 3LN

Notes

Funded by the Department for Education, Teachers’ TV was a producer and supplier of over 3,600 free videos and lesson resources to support the professional development of anyone working in school, enabling them to widen their skills, develop their practice, and connect with others in the field. Previously broadcast on digital television, the service became exclusively online from 31 August 2010, with programmes being available for free online viewing or download. Thge DfE terminated the contract with Teachers TV and delivery via the website ceased on 29 April 2011, with the programmes being offered to educational distributors free online delivery. Further details from the DfE website Until 29 April 2011 programmes from Teachers Television were streamed on the website and available for download to registered users (free registration). Programmes are aimed at primary and secondary school teachers in all subject areas, as well as headteachers and governors, and include observation of teaching sessions, materials for use in the classroom and discussion of issues relevant to education. Teachers TV was funded by the Department for Education but the contract ended in April 2011 and the programmes are being offered to educational distributors to deliver free at the point of use from their websites. Details of which titles are available in this way are on the DfE website http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/toolsandinitiatives/teacherstv