This film is part of Free
Education for the Future
Derrick Knight’s 1967 documentary about a school in Kingston Upon Hull makes a powerful case for the comprehensive school system.
Overview
In 1967 the Labour Party Press Office had three ten-minute TV slots to fill, so they commissioned filmmaker Derrick Knight to experiment with something outside of the traditional party political broadcast. Deciding that education was the most pressing issue of the day, he focused on the David Lister High School in Kingston upon Hull and its charismatic headteacher Albert Rowe.
The resulting documentary aimed to champion the cause of the relatively new comprehensive school system, illustrating the use of modern aids and disciplinary methods, and to challenge the assumption that its establishment would lead to a lowering of standards. Knight uses various stylistic approaches, such as hand-held camera, interviews and voice-over commentary, to present a concise showpiece for comprehensive education.
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