School Daze

Overview

Plot Summary

The year is 2085. Twins Ollie and Izzie, two typical eleven-year-olds, are staying over with their grandparents in the sheltered sector of Zone C. Like all doting grandparents, the old folks are keen to keep abreast of their grandchildren’s progress and to gain an insight into their experiences of primary school, or ‘System A’ as it is now known! Ollie and Izzie are also eager to learn of Grandma and Grandpa’s antics when they were 11 years old, in the 2020’s. (song – Old School Days)  As the evening’s conversation wears on, it becomes apparent that these children from 2085 are really no different to those who were leaving primary school back in the ‘good old days’. Equally apparent is that some experiences of primary school span generations and the truly noteworthy ones always involve larger-than-life characters and funny situations. Through a series of flashbacks, in the form of sketches and songs, we get an entertaining (if tongue-in-cheek) glimpse of the universal trials and tribulations involved in simply being young and going to school.

Firstly, we join Mr Riley and his disgruntled students, and witness a classic case of ‘do what I say, not what I do!’ Whilst chastising his class for (amongst other things) not doing their homework and using mobile phones in the classroom, he comically fails to see the irony in his failure to mark their maths books and in answering his wife’s call regarding this evening’s dinner date! (song – Teachers Have It Easy)

How can parents be made to understand that, now their children are getting older, they must not, under any circumstances, try to hold their hand on the way to school? And heaven forbid they ask for a kiss goodbye! We take a hilarious look at the difference in children’s outlooks and behaviour from when they start primary school to when they leave it! (song – A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E.)

Unimpressed with the look (and smell) of the Yr6 classroom’s inhabitants, glam teacher Miss Versace has a few choice words for her students following a hot and sweaty lunch break. Can the liberal use of makeup, hair-gel and deodorant really improve things, especially when the skills in applying them haven’t quite been mastered yet? (song – A Touch Of Lip Gloss)

The horror of discovering nits is only matched by the torture suffered during the de-lousing procedure…as we find out next, in graphic detail! (song – The Nits Blues)

What’s the best way to get good SATs results without piling the pressure on? A no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point revision video like this one, that’s how! Pay attention! (song – It’s Nearly Time To Take Your SATs)

Why are teachers economical with the truth during parental consultations? Well, as we see, a few white lies don’t do any harm, especially given some parents’ expectations when it comes to their little darlings! (song – Parental Consultation Evening)

And who can forget desperately wanting to be grown-up, but having the feeling that maybe this is the best time of one’s life and every moment should be cherished? We finish with a reminder that although the future is exciting, the memories we make at primary school will be amongst the best we ever have. (song – One Day At A Time)