A Few Words: Jamie's Dream School

Jamie's Dream School is a show in that particular genre of reality show that tries to pretend it has any profound influence on the rest of the world. Lamenting on "Broken Britain" stereotypes, the show often seems a little pretentious, trying to educate children who have failed their GCSEs. A School-dropout himself, Jamie has enlisted celebrities to teach his brood.
     The two major drawing forces of the show are the teachers and the pupils. The teachers often show their own incompetance as they're faced with the unexpected ignorance of their audience; one in particular was reknown historian David Starkey, whose first lesson consisted of a slanging match with a pupil. The biggest hit was Scientist Lord Robert Winston, whose practical science lessons (including looking at sperm samples - provided by the classes' boys) helped to stimulate the kids.
     The pupils themselves are chilling charicatures of modern Britain, students chosen that were just ignorant enough to be annoying, and yet just cockey enough to pick out the teachers' flaws. They draw real parallels with my own education, frighteningly, while being covered up by the series editting to look either better or worse (it changes depending upon the edittor's mood, it seems.)
     Jamie's Dream School has a lot of interesting ideas, but like its contemporary Waterloo Road it turns more into a "spot the flaw" game every week. A nice try, Jamie, but this show is entertaining for all of the wrong reasons.

Thanks.