Bad Apples (2025)

Plot of Bad Apples: Maria Spencer is the teacher in charge of a bunch of ten year olds in a west country school. If it was not for the inclusion of Danny, a totally disruptive pupil in the class all would be well. When Danny leaves the class pursued by Maria a series of unfortunate events result in him being locked in the basement of her suburban house. She does not let him out, but instead feeds him and goes to her class which becomes co-operative and successful. Danny becomes a resident in the basement and despite a police search nothing happens although the father is suspected. It is only a visit from Pauline a precocious ten year old which changes things. She has to be bought off and even so bores both Maria and Danny with her visits where she assumes control. The school is successful in a OFSTED  inspection and Maria is promoted to deputy-head. But in the midst of the success Pauline reveals the truth to a meeting of the parents. They must call the police, but wait a minute! That will set the whole class back again. Oh dear.

Content: The headmaster and deputy-head snog a bit (For readers in distant parts of the world ‘snogging’ is a British term for kissing with enthusiasm). No nudity, drinking or smoking. Initially Maria attempts to control her class which is disrupted by Danny and her lack of success it seems will result in her being sacked. She accidentally knocks the boy down and takes him home, where he runs away into the basement. Maria, over days, organises Danny’s situation and begins to teach him in the evenings. Meanwhile the class in school goes from strength to strength. There is interaction with Danny’s dad, who is a zero hours internet delivery driver and hardly has time to engage in conversation. The OFSTED inspection takes place. Pauline is an irritant to everybody.

A View: This was a small scale film, well liked by the very limited number of critics who reviewed it. My wife is a former teacher, firstly keen to see it and secondly enjoyed it a lot. I imagine this view would be reflected by any current or ex-teachers who see it, forced as they are to deal with the inclusion in normal classes of disruptive children. It only takes one child to destroy the whole class. We know it’s not their fault but… Oh dear I’m straying into politics. OK, go and see it. It would be worth your time.

Fun Fact: The school used was a soon to be demolished secondary school in Bath.