Growing Up Gifted

In episode one we meet three Year 9 girls facing the mounting pressure of their first year of GCSE preparation. For all three, so much of the journey is about confidence. In Port Talbot, avid reader and top-tier student Ann Marie knows she wants to go to university, but she suffers from anxiety around her exams. Meanwhile in Tamworth, Shakira's school recognises that she is a talented artist and tries to help her find her creative voice by pushing her out of her comfort zone. Confidence is less of an issue for Birmingham-based aspiring paediatrician Jada: her determination to ace her Year 9 exams is pinned on her dream of winning a future place at nearby Sixth Form grammar school. But however determined she and her mum are, money may halt her dream.

This episode features three bright 13-year-old boys on the cusp of adulthood and facing many uncertainties. Kian is a bright aspiring mathematician who keeps being told he has 'potential', which is causing him to worry about his future and feel pressure both at school and at home. His dad is determined for him to get out of Hartlepool, but this just adds to the weight of expectation. In Newcastle, Liam is on track to gain top science grades at GCSE, but his teachers worry the pressure he puts himself under at home may prevent him from fulfilling his aspirations. Meanwhile, problems at home threaten to derail talented London-based student Jamarley, but his family's determination to overcome adversity helps him through tough times.