When schools across the country were closed due to COVID-19, sofas, bedroom floors and kitchen tables became makeshift classrooms for most children in the UK.

We’re following a school in Bedford as they rebuild from the challenges caused by those lost months.

Episode 5: Reflections

It's September. A fresh start for every school. Bedford Academy included. But last year was a year like no other. In our final episode of Class of 2020, see what the summer term meant to the staff and pupils. And join them in celebrating how far they've come as a community.

Disclaimer: filming taken under safety measures and with special permission from the school.

Episode 4: Representation

Representation matters. Something Albert, a Maths and PE teacher at Bedford Academy, knows too well.

In this episode of Class of 2020, we follow Albert and discover why mentoring and open conversations about race are crucial to his pupils’ futures.

Disclaimer: filming taken under safety measures and with special permission from the school.

Episode 3: Recover

The corridors are busy once again at Bedford Academy.

But while it’s exciting to return to the classroom, there's no quick fix in getting ‘back to normal’. Staff are working to identify gaps in learning - 34% has been lost for poorer secondary school pupils due to COVID-19 - all while making sure pupils feel safe and settled in an environment that’s familiar yet changed.

In this episode of Class of 2020, we follow the staff at Bedford Academy as they support pupils transitioning back into school life, balancing COVID testing and ongoing discussions about exams and wellbeing.

Disclaimer: filming taken under safety measures and with special permission from the school.

Episode 2: Resilience

As another lockdown begins, headteacher Chris Deller and his team at Bedford Academy are working hard to keep spirits up.

But things are tough. The number of cases are rising, families are struggling to make ends meet and the ongoing challenges of online learning are a serious issue.

Teach First research has found that over a third of parents (37%) have at least one child with no exclusive use of a device for schoolwork. Almost three in five (59%) parents in England are worried about how prepared their children are to transition into the next academic year.

So how can Bedford Academy stop over a thousand children from falling behind?

In this episode of Class of 2020, we see how the staff at Bedford Academy go above and beyond to not only help with their pupils’ education, but to care for their wellbeing too.

Disclaimer: filming taken under safety measures and with special permission from the school.

Episode 1: Rebuilding

On 20 March 2020, Bedford Academy was forced to close as the country went into lockdown.

Almost 1,200 pupils were sent home for three months, many without the things they needed to learn. Now Bedford Academy are reopening their doors with a new set of challenges to overcome.

In the first episode of Class of 2020, we follow headteacher, Chris Deller, and his team as they prepare for a very different first day of school. 

Disclaimer: filming taken under safety measures and with special permission from the school.

Class of 2020 Yearbook

Get to know the staff and pupils of Bedford Academy.

Read more

Important info on COVID-19

The Class of 2020 is filmed by Teach First with special permission from Bedford Academy, which has increased its health and safety measures in accordance with government advice. Masks or visors are worn by the filming crew, and social distancing protocols are followed at all times. All filming equipment is regularly cleaned and sanitised.