Season 1
What happens when you take 15 youths that have "dropped out" of school and give them a second chance? And what happens if we create a "dream school", with amazing celebrity teachers willing to share their knowledge and passion, and see if these learners can rediscover education in a whole new way?
The reality series Dream School SA, based on the highly successful "Jamie Oliver's Dream School" in the UK, is a South African first and it aims to rekindle a generation's love for learning.
Running for 13 weeks, Dream School SA takes the format of a docu-reality show and tries to answer one question: can we re-engage the unengaged?
Fifteen learners who have dropped out, or who are in danger of dropping out, come together for a two-week period and spend their time with celebrity teachers and mentors, opening a door for them to have another chance to complete their high school education.
The cast is the face of South Africa. Natasha (17, Mitchell's Plain), Zama (18, Soweto), Trevor (16, Durban), Nisaa (16, Manenberg), Lihle (17, Khayelitsha), Waunita (17, Pretoria), Monique (18, Johannesburg), Simphiwe (16, Langa), Keagan (15, Kempton Park), Thandeka (17, Dobsonville), Tshepo (19, Soweto), Masi (17, Woodstock), Chenique (15, Hanover Park), Vincent (15, Cape Town) and Nuraan (15, Hanover Park) are struggling to complete their high school education and all have their own unique stories.
When they get together for Dream School SA they have the opportunity to re-engage with their educational journey.
With the aim of inspiring young people Dream School SA has an impressive line-up of educators and celebrities. Hosted by Anele Mdoda, with Johan Volsteedt (recently retired from Grey College) as headmaster, the rest of the teaching 'staff' includes the likes of South African struggle hero Denis Goldberg, journalist and author Tim Butcher, Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Cobras coach Paul Adams, FreshlyGround's Zolani Mahola, celebrity cook Karen Dudley and Dance for All's Philip Boyd.
The celebrity staff members teach the following subjects:
Johan Volsteedt - Headmaster
Carolina Ödman - Physics/Astronomy
Prof. Jonathan Jansen - Science
Karen Dudley - Cooking
Philip Boyd - Dance
Allison Hendricks - Dance
Zolani Mahola - Music
Jennifer Jones - Music
Nozimanga Bonje - Mathematics
Tim Butcher - English
Denis Goldberg - History
Esta Hattingh - Psychologist
Costa Kapnias - Sport
Bruwer Raats - Business
Alex Pestana - Business
Izelle Venter - Guest Speaker
Paul Adams - Guest Speaker
Soli Philander - Guest Speaker
Covering all school subjects, and using cutting-edge iPad technology, Dream School SA focuses as much on the learner's emotional well-being as on their academic education, with the daily involvement of a psychologist and also including subjects such as dance, cooking, and life skills.
The 15 learners that form the Dream School SA cast were chosen from across South Africa and from different walks of life. They had to be between 15 and 19 years old and the focus was on finding learners that showed resilience, were intelligent, but had lost the spark for education or were in the process of failing.
All participating learners were selected through an audition process in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Selections were based on guidelines as supplied by Freemantle and after intensive interviewing and assessment, to ensure they would be the right fit.
Dream School SA is based on a format entitled Dream School devised by Fresh One Productions Ltd, licensed by FremantleMedia and produced locally by Little Leo Films.
Directed by Paul Yule, the series producer is Markus Vernon Davies.