SLC Films presents: ‘My School Journey’
Recently, the young people in our Sensational Learning Centre (SLC) proudly premiered their film, My School Journey, to an excited audience of peers, colleagues, and families.
The film is a personal and inspiring reflection of their experiences navigating mainstream school, facing challenges, and ultimately finding a place where they can thrive.
It’s a story of resilience, growth, and new beginnings, told through their own voices and creativity.
Over the past few months, they have worked with Screen Scotland to immerse themselves in filmmaking – developing ideas, writing scripts, filming, editing, and even stepping in front of the camera. This collaboration is part of a national initiative supporting teachers across Scotland to integrate filmmaking into education.
Fi Milligan-Rennie, Head of Education at Screen Scotland, shared:
“Filmmaking creates a wealth of opportunity for young people to shine in an art form that is familiar to everyone, but not always understood to be accessible. We believe that every child and young person in Scotland should have the opportunity to make or collaborate in the making of a film as part of their schooling, and we’re delighted that The Donaldson Trust are working with us to test our draft film and screen curriculum.”
The project not only gave the young people a chance to explore storytelling but also helped develop skills in teamwork and self-expression. Through hands-on experience, they gained a deeper understanding of what goes into making a film, from initial concepts to the final edit. Alongside technical skills, the process provided a platform for them to share personal experiences in a creative and empowering way.
The premiere was a celebration of their hard work and dedication, as well as an opportunity to showcase their talent on the big screen. Reflecting on their favourite parts of the process, the young people said:
“The best part was seeing how everything comes together behind the scenes – and, of course, acting!”
“I loved making a great movie, acting out scenes, and having fun with my best friends!”
Their families also shared their thoughts on what the experience meant to them:
“I felt so proud – it’s no small feat to step in front of a camera. Watching the final film after knowing how much effort they put in over the past few months was a special experience.”
“Their confidence today was worlds apart from what we saw in mainstream school. As a parent, it means so much to see them not just participating but genuinely enjoying an experience like this.”
“For me, it was quite emotional. The film mirrors their own journey and seeing them recognise that was incredibly moving. It reaffirmed that choosing Donaldson’s was the right decision.”
Class Holly Teacher, Rebekah Smart, added her own reflections, expressing admiration for all their hard work as she witnessed first-hand how they embraced both the technical and creative aspects of filmmaking, using it as a powerful tool to tell their story:
“I’m incredibly proud of how the young people embraced a challenging subject through the language of film.”
A huge congratulations to the young people for their creativity, resilience, and teamwork. Their film is a powerful testament to storytelling, and we have no doubt this is just the start of their creative journeys!
Watch My School Journey below:
