Market trader's son Gary Phillips is headteacher of Lilian Baylis school in south London, a secondary with its fair share of challenges. The school is on the DCSF hit list of so-called under-performers with GCSE A*-Cs hovering near 30%. Phillips needs to work a minor miracle in the next academic year if he is to keep his government masters happy, and stave off what he describes as being 'forcibly acadamised'. 80% of students receive free school meals, and the school is one of the most challenging in the country. This week the dedicated staff team morale receives a sharp boost as the new Year 7s arrive, while a round of interviews for new teaching assistant posts discovers some worrying standards of literacy.

Video Series: Challenge
Release Date 2008