British TV: Small Axe: Education

The Small Axe anthology so far, Mangrove, Lovers Rock, Red, White and Blue and Alex Wheatle

Written by Steve McQueen and Alastair Siddons
Directed by Steve McQueen

Broadcast: BBC One, 13th December 2020
Synopsis: When Kingsley is transferred into a special needs school, it is clear teaching these missed placed children is not on the syllabus.
Cast: Kenyah Sandy, Sharlene Whyte, Tamara Lawrance, Daniel Francis

Inspired by true events, Education is the last movie in the Small Axe anthology, which follows Kingsley (Kenyah Sandy) who is on the brink of falling through the cracks of the British education system.

Labelled as energetic by the headmaster who is quick to tell Kingsley’s mother Agnes, (Sharlene Whyte) about the list of complaints about her son, she agrees to send him to another school – despite her sons protests.

What Agnes doesn’t see – despite her children trying to open her eyes to it – is that the subnormal school Kingsley has been sent too, is not a place for individual educational needs to be met. It is an institutional trap and it is one that many black children – boys especially are deliberately and directly pushed into.

YOU’RE CRYING!

This was a fantastic piece of film that was led very strongly by our twelve year old protagonist Kingsley – played by Kenyah Sandy. His genuine lack of comprehension for his situation was incredibly poignant, as was him feeling like he had no voice in the matter. You could sense his yearning to be extraordinary through his love of space and the connection he sought with a mother who was too busy, too return it.

This leads on to one of the things I thought the movie got spot on; the depiction of Kingsley and Stephanie’s (Tamara Lawrance) parents. They were hard working, made sure there was breakfast on the table in the morning, and the kids said their prayers at night. They made sure their children were receiving an education – but never looked beyond the surface. Their children went to school and that was enough, as they automatically assumed the education they were getting was useful and fair.

They were good people, good parents, but relied on a system told to them worked, not realising it wasn’t built to work for everyone.

Watching this felt familiar and that direct connection made it all the more impactful and emotional for me, and many other viewers. I went to school in the noughties, thirty odd years after the events of the movie takes place but it still rings true. This speaks to the unconscious bias that still goes on between teachers and (particularly) black male students today.

Education was a great movie to end the Small Axe Anthology on and you know what – I’m ranking this in the number one spot out of the five movies so make sure you watch it based on that commendation alone!

Trailer Below…