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It's the start of another year at the elite public college Harrow School. We follow West Acre boarding house and its arrival of 66 new inhabitants. See how the boys get on througout the school year as House Master Martin Smith helps the freshman "shells" adapt to the demands of a busy new regime.
2013
Documentary following staff and pupils at the all-boys' institution. Filmed over the course of a year, the programme explores the most eccentric customs and traditions of the public school, which counts former prime minister Winston Churchill and actor Benedict Cumberbatch among its famous alumni. In the first edition, homesickness gets the better of Oliver, Sachin, and Dillon - who has travelled from Malawi - as they leave their families behind to begin life in their uniformed blue blazers and grey trousers.
The pupils compete in the annual Glees & Twelves competition - an a cappella sing-off held in front of the whole school - but the much-fancied West Acre house is rocked by a sporting injury to one of its treble singers, leaving top scholar Daniel under increasing pressure to lead his group to victory.
It's halfway through the summer term, and sixth-former Shrai is nervous as he becomes the first boy to ever direct a house play. It's an exciting but daunting honour, given West Acre's reputation as the artiest of the houses - but as stress levels rise and his popularity plummets, it seems he may have bitten off more than he can chew. Andreas is also feeling the weight of expectation, trying to meet the demands of being a music scholar, juggling school work and hours of practice with performances in various productions. The latest is the biggest musical event of the school year, which sees thousands of old boys invade the Royal Albert Hall for a nostalgic singalong celebrating everything great about Harrow.
As the autumn term draws to a close, sixth-formers Hugh and Henry reflect on some of the school's eclectic range of traditions. They include Contio Latino, an annual event which requires the Head Boy to deliver a 20-minute speech in Latin, and the Long Ducker, a compulsory 10-mile race from London to Harrow. Meanwhile the Shells, or first-year pupils, are still getting to grips with what it means to be a Harrovian, with a football match designed to help them settle in.
This term, music scholar Henry is responsible for organizing West Acre's entry in the annual inter-house orchestral competition. With West Acre's reputation as the most musical house of the hill at stake, and confidence in his leadership wavering, can Henry bring home a trophy for West Acre?
West Acre House is about to be put to the test again. This time, the inhabitants will be marching in the inter-house army drill competition. Unfortunately, this is not an event the house has traditionally excelled in! Hugh's West Acre drill conscripts are struggling to march in step. If Hugh can't raise their game, West Acre's house pride could really be in the firing line.
Speech Day culminates with the finals of the inter-house relay races, and with national sprint superstar Joel on their team, West Acre is hoping for a happy ending to the term. But disaster strikes when Joel breaks his collarbone playing rugby for England's under-seventeens. Will he be fit in time to bring longed-for athletic glory to West Acre?
It's midway through the summer term, a sad time for everyone in the house as housemaster Martin Smith prepares to retire. The term comes to an emotional end with the traditional house songs and the Upper Sixth bid farewell to Harrow. As the school year ends, it's clear that nothing at West Acre will ever be the same again.
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Miles Jupp
Self - Narrator