Basisschool Balder

Monday, September 2, 2024. The new school year begins, and teachers arrive at the school near Brussels South Station. Teacher Tessa is one of them: she will be supervising the sixth grade, a difficult task in a school where 98% of the students don't speak Dutch as their native language. A school struggling with housing and the challenges of a large city like Brussels. And, like so many schools in Flanders, battling the acute teacher shortage. It's principal Mike, supported by assistant Sandra and care coordinator Laura, who must ensure that Balder Primary School has a secure future again...

After the fall break, Ms. Tessa struggles in the sixth grade. She also falls ill, but she's not alone. Principal Mike is also home for two weeks. During his absence, the teachers discover that understaffing and a lack of structure are creating chaos in the classrooms and on the playground. Farah has been in the third grade since September. When her mother has to move to an asylum center, Farah immediately has to say goodbye to her class and Ms. Carmen. Mike returns from sick leave and is confronted with Ms. Tessa's dismissal: the sixth grade is once again without a teacher. Moreover, the staff wants to discuss the ongoing problems at a special meeting.

After the Christmas holidays, we meet Jürgen. He's replacing Ms. Tessa and is given the difficult task of preparing the sixth-grade students for secondary school. But there's also bad news: Ms. Carmen of the second grade and Mr. Tom of the third grade are saying goodbye to Balder. As a result, the disappointed mother, Meriama—daughter Anissa is in Mr. Tom's class—comes to ask for an explanation. We also meet eleven-year-old Amelia, who brings her younger sisters to school every day because her mother is ill. And then the unexpected happens: during an emotional conversation with colleague Sandra, principal Mike reveals that he, too, is leaving the school...

Care coordinator Laura has been appointed acting principal now that Mike has left the school. We meet Anneleen, one of the longest-serving teachers. She gets up at 4:00 a.m. twice a week to work out and then make the long drive to Brussels. But despite the staff's commitment, it's becoming increasingly difficult to provide high-quality education full-time. After consulting with all parties, the decision is made to close one year 3 class, with major consequences for several students. Anissa, for example, has her mother having to look for another school. And at the end of this turbulent school year, the year 6 students—who are struggling significantly—take their final exams to enter secondary school.