DOCUMENTARY

BBC2, 9pm

Anne-Marie is an avid reader and wants to go to university. She would rather get lost in a book or write down her thoughts than talk to anyone.

Meanwhile, Shakira can draw amazing pictures, but struggles with confidence and has limited ambition. “What other careers use art?” nudges her teacher, after Shakira says she wants to be a tattoo designer.

Jada wants to be a paediatrician – but while she’s extremely bright, will she be able to win a place at a local grammar school?

These three girls are all year nine students, all gifted, but all from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Kids living in poverty are half as likely to achieve the top GCSE grades as their better off classmates – no matter how much potential they have.

This eye-opening series will follow six children over three years as they prepare for their GCSEs. But as they begin, their dreams seem a long way off.

SECRET LIFE Writer Andrew