SOPHIE

What are you going to be doing when you’re 25 Harry? 

harry

Trying to stay alive...

Let's do something!

1 in 5

children in England cannot read well by the age of 11*

This isn't good enough and children like Harry need the support they deserve.

WATCH the film and TAKE ACTION and find out how you can make a difference to a child's life.  

A personal perspective on the film by Director Jaime Taylor

I come from a very similar place to Harry’s neighbourhood, with the same levels of poverty and the problems that come with that. Looking at my school year group today: some have never worked, some are already grandparents in their thirties, some ended up in prison, one is a prostitute, a couple are drug addicts. Others haven’t fared quite so badly but they certainly never reached their potential. They weren’t even aware that they had the potential or agency to create any kind of future for themselves. None of us were.

Because the worst, most debilitating effect of poverty on young people is the lack of confidence and headspace to imagine that life could be different. I got away from my hometown to escape that crushing sense of inevitability that life would always be that way, and it was for these reasons I became a teacher and continue to work in education today. Is it possible to press the reset button on these children’s lives? To help kids break free from poverty? And is it actually right to do this? 

Opportunities should exist everywhere for our kids. It’s not right that often the only option is to sever ties to family, friends and community for good - as was the case for me. In communities even subtle differences – your changing accent, “speaking different” – can have a huge impact on relationships.

We’ve been present through the highs and lows of the school year – capturing the small details that reveal an enormous amount: the facial expressions of children who have never been told before that they are important. H IS FOR HARRY is a ‘coming-of-age’ film to encourage a discussion around education and the extent to which it can perform the miracles each new government promises.

- Jaime Taylor, Co-Director

The Team

Ed Owles, Co-Director

Ed has shot & directed films across the globe for the last 10 years for broadcast, festival & online. His first feature documentary screened at festivals around the world, was broadcast on Al-Jazeera, and was described by The Hollywood Reporter as “tremendously vivid & expertly entertaining”. He is the co-founder of award-winning production company Postcode Films.

Jaime Taylor, Co-Director

Jaime left a career in teaching in 2009 to make documentaries & co-found Postcode Films with Ed. She has also worked as a development producer with the BBC & Producer with Century Films on the Bafta nominated, RTS and double Grierson winning ‘The Secret History of Our Streets’. She worked for 4 years across both series of the critically acclaimed documentary, described in the Guardian as “wonderful...it prodded your brain awake as it broke your heart.”

Jon McGoh, Producer

Jon is an entrepreneur running a successful education company, which has funded the development of the film. Jon is part of Sheffield DocFest’s flagship Future Producer Program. As a Governor at Reach Academy, Jon has been essential in building trust and access for the Directors.

Isla Badenoch, Creative Producer

Isla Badenoch is a documentary filmmaker, creative producer and visual artist. Isla is an intuitive storyteller whose work has an individual style grounded in her roots as a documentary filmmaker. Isla’s work is currently supported by BBC Arts, Arts Council England, BFI Network x DocSociety, LUX Scotland, Screen Scotland, The Hartley Foundation, Statens Kunstfond and Frøken Marie Månssons.

Executive Producers Rachel Wexler & Jez Lewis - Bungalow Town Productions

Distribution in Partnership with Dartmouth Films