- Surrey Square School names class after TV Presenter who grew up in care in South London, studied at Cambridge, and became a successful TV journalist
- BAFTA and Place2Be host Q&A with Ashley John-Baptiste and pupils at Surrey Square Primary
- The Young BAFTA Roadshow with Place2Be to resume this June
Today, BAFTA and children’s mental health charity Place2Be returned to Surrey Square Primary School in Southwark to host a special visit from award-winning TV journalist, presenter and author Ashley John-Baptiste to share his inspirational story after the school named a class after him.
Born in South London, Ashley John-Baptiste grew up in care in Southwark, just a few miles from the school. After a teacher read his memoir, Looked After: A Childhood in Care, to her class, the teacher was so inspired by Ashley’s story of resilience and success that she named the class after him.
The school decided to name its classes after local inspirational figures – from scientists and athletes to authors, journalists and community champions.
BAFTA invited Ashley John-Baptiste to meet the students and share his own journey – from growing up in care to studying at the University of Cambridge, and ultimately, building a career as a journalist and presenter at the BBC with shows like Con or Cure and Expert Witness on BBC1 and Split Up In Care: Life Without Siblings on BBC3 as well as regular appearances on The One Show. The visit included a Q&A with pupils, discussions on overcoming adversity, and insights into the world of media and storytelling.
Ashley John-Baptiste has previously worked with Young BAFTA hosting Transferable Skills events and acting as a judge on the annual Young Presenters competition.
The Young BAFTA Roadshow with Place2Be is a nationwide series of primary school visits to some of the most disadvantaged areas in the UK that aims to champion creativity, inspire ambition, and build confidence through film, games and television. A Place2Be partner school since 1999, Surrey Square School, was the final visit of last year’s Roadshow series, with the 2025 series kicking off this June in Bradford, with further visits planned across the UK.
Ashley John-Baptiste said of the visit: “As a foster child, I lived in Walworth for nearly five years. To now have a school in that area name one of their classes after me is completely mind blowing. As a child navigating the care system, I never imagined that I’d achieve anything of significance – and so to be receiving this recognition is truly humbling. I want the students in that school to know that they are truly worth it. They are talented, capable and worthy of achieving their dreams.”
Lisa Prime, Head of Children & Young People’s Programme at BAFTA, said: “Surrey Square Primary was the final leg of the Young BAFTA Roadshow with Place2Be in 2024. We had a wonderful day and I particularly enjoyed a roundtable conversation with the Junior Leadership Team when they explained the inspiration for their class names. Knowing Ashley, through his support of the Young BAFTA programme, I immediately wanted to bring him into the school to meet the amazing teachers and students. BAFTA’s partnership with Place2Be is all about these meaningful encounters and there is no more positive role model than Ashley. What a privilege to be able to facilitate this special meeting!”
Matt Morden, Headteacher at Surrey Square Primary School, said: “We’re so excited to welcome Ashley John-Baptiste to Surrey Square. His journey – from growing up in care to becoming a BBC journalist and author – is a powerful example of what’s possible with determination and belief. Naming a class after him reminds our pupils every day that their voice matters, their story matters, and their dreams are within reach.”
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Taken into care at the age of two, Ashley John-Baptiste spent his early years in multiple foster homes and residential settings around South London. Despite significant challenges, he went on to study at the University of Cambridge and build a successful career in broadcasting. He has fronted BBC documentaries on the care system and social inequality and is known for using his platform to champion the voices of young people in care. His memoir Looked After: A Childhood in Care was published in 2024 to critical acclaim, quickly becoming a powerful educational tool for teachers, carers and young people alike.
Since 2016, BAFTA has partnered with Place2Be to deliver the Roadshows in schools with above average levels of disadvantage, including those with high rates of free school meals and those within government-identified education investment areas.
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About BAFTA
BAFTA’s mission as a charity is to champion the creative and cultural importance of the screen arts across film, games and television. Through its Awards ceremonies and year-round programme of talent initiatives and learning events that include masterclasses, lectures, scholarships, bursaries and mentoring schemes in the UK and North America, BAFTA identifies and celebrates excellence, discovers, inspires and nurtures new screen talent, and enables learning and creative collaboration. For more, visit www.bafta.org. BAFTA is a registered charity (no. 216726).
About Place2Be
Place2Be is a leading children’s mental health charity providing school-based support and in-depth training programmes to improve the emotional wellbeing of pupils, families, teachers and school staff. The charity currently provides an embedded mental health service through its Whole School Approach in over 500 UK primary and secondary schools, supporting a school community of around 300,000 children and young people. place2be.org.uk
