‘We are the people we’ve been waiting for’
20th November, 2009Billed as an ‘Inconvenient Truth’ for education, a new documentary from Lord Puttnam and Sir Michael Barber is exploring the UK education system. The film asks current students, education experts and high-profile figures about their experiences of education and explores key questions about future of education.
The full website launches on Monday 23 November, but the online buzz around the trailer for ‘We are the people‘ is building following the premiere this week. Free copies of the film will be available to readers of The Guardian newspaper on Saturday 28 November.
Online discussions about the issues raised in the film will be hosted by The Guardian on the 24 November and 1 December.

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Bob Harrison
Ben Williamson
Dan Sutch
Richard Sandford
Leon Cych
Martin Owen
Sarah Grier
Tim Reader
November 23rd, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Can’t wait! I hope they also put the full version up for download online – that was one of the keys to the success of Musical Futures – anybody could download it at any time for free, so it spread far and wide really quickly.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:21 am
This film is absolutely stunning. Everyone should see this. Along with Ken’s books I will be suggesting this film to everyone struggling to value their creativity. Who ‘billed’ the film ‘as an ‘Inconvenient Truth’ for education’ – I agree entirely, but am curious who said this.
December 2nd, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Finally, the penny is dropping. This is coming round again after many years. Amazing that Summerhill survived the darkest days of ofsted, though many teachers did not… and where is the accountability for the casualties?
I am talking about dissident children labelled ADHD and medicalised, teachers who committed suicide, parents desperate to find a decent education for their children.
Yet our leaders, who insist on an evidence base (other than common sense that is) reject expert opinion in fear of the gutter press.
We are doing a big event around this in the North East next year – anyone want to join the party?