Bad Education - "School Trip" Recap

Teacher Alfie Wickers on a school trip to a farm

Series 1, Episode 4 - Full Synposis

Both Alfie Wickers' and Rosie Gulliver's classes set out on a field trip to a petting zoo and ink museum, but not before hearing a few (racist) zingers from the bus driver. On the way over, Alfie confiscates some mini bottles of liquor from the wannabe-tough-guy of his students, Mitchell, and has his "heinous" hiking boots and hair insulted by Stephen. During his explanation of his attire being selected for the outdoors, he unzips his jacket to reveal a multi-purpose utility harness tightly wrapped around his body. One particularly noticeable item attached is a spork.

Upon being enquired by Rem as to why they could not have gone paint-balling instead, for "artistic" purposes, Alfie relays the request to Miss Gulliver. Despite his disappointment at her not agreeing to switch the field trip's destination, Alfie conveys his relief that it is at least better than the boring poetry field trip that Headmaster Fraser is apparently taking another group of students to. The scene cuts away to reveal that the "poetry" trip is actually to a rap battle taking place at a club. Additionally, Deputy Headmistress  Isobell Pickwell's field trip is to a pig slaughterhouse.

Alfie suggests taking the students camping on the way back, but Miss Gulliver states that she must be back by seven in order to go on a blind date. Alfie is unabashedly miffed and rants about the flaws this date is likely to have. Upon hearing the age, occupation, and other attributes of this blind date, Alfie is particularly offended, as each attribute matches him entirely. He has yet to be able to gain Miss Gulliver's affections.

Alfie goes on to express his displeasure at not being able to have organised his own field trip for his class. Miss Gulliver reminds him that the previous time he was able to do so, the class' science trip ended up being a trip to the cinema to watch the notorious horror film, "The Human Centipede." Alfie immediately deflects responsibility for the mishap on Mitchell, who had apparently made claims that the film was akin to "Spiderman." Alfie states that had he been given the choice, he would have taken the class on a trip to learn how to survive in the wilderness, in case The Hunger Games ever came true. Though Miss Gulliver laughs at this, Alfie warns her that she won't be laughing when Jing is shooting one of Miss Gulliver's students with a bow and arrow.

The class arrives at Shrubwood Farm, where caretaker Filch (no, the character's name is not stated, but he is portrayed by David Bradley) warns the group that the farm has a worm epidemic, having spent all morning fishing a massive worm out of a weasel. He declares a "look, but don't touch" policy, before attempting to jest that a private dance may be arranged later. Chantelle attempts to speak with Alfie once again, having attempted to do so earlier on the bus, but he again dismisses her. Caretaker Filch attempts to answer a barrage of absurd questions from the students, and even Alfie.

Miss Gulliver laments the poor state of the animals, and is further distressed when the farmers display a mutant pig with a rhinoceros-like horn. We are once again provided with a glimpse of the rap-battle field trip, where Headmaster Fraser appears to be enjoying himself tremendously, and even lifts his shirt up to reveal a piercing on his left nipple. Headmistress Pickwell is basking in her enjoyment of shooting a pig, and thereby getting splashed with blood. She asks if any of the students would like to "play god." Back at the farm, everyone is tremendously bored.

Alfie confides in Joe about his displeasure at Miss Gulliver going on a date, after being caught drinking the confiscated liquor and ranting his feelings to the rhino-pig. Though Joe pragmatically suggests that Alfie confess his feelings, Alfie drunkenly releases the pig as a misguided means of pleasing Miss Gulliver, who had stated earlier that she wished for the pig to be free. When he approaches her and says that they had better get going, she immediately gets suspicious and enquires what he has done. Though he denies doing anything, and states he doesn't want her to miss her date, she doesn't load everyone back onto the bus till he mentions the possibility of her buying some furs to look nice.

When the bus driver insists on Alfie driving so that he may use the restroom, Alfie accidentally hits the pig. Miss Gulliver finds the horn, which had turned out to be fake, and demands to know who freed the pig. Joe takes the blame after succumbing to the insistent gaze from Alfie. When Miss Gulliver is touched by the gesture, Alfie is irritated.

Upon going into the woods, Alfie attempts to impress the group by bringing forth a dead bird and berries. Despite protests from Miss Gulliver that the berries are poisonous, he eats them out of pride and eventually hallucinates while under their influence. He defecates in the river, upsetting some fishermen and Miss Gulliver. She explodes by stating that his immaturity has ruined this and many other things, and his slightly inebriated confession of his feelings does nothing to remedy the situation.

While Alfie is sitting alone, Chantelle and Stephen come over, and reassure him. Chantelle confesses that she had just been dumped by an older boy she was seeing, for not being mature enough. The two of them bring Alfie back over to the group. Alfie attempts to delegate responsibilities to the group so that they may start a fire, before nearly every student pulls out lighters of their own. Meanwhile at the rap battle, Fraser attempts to participate before angering his rival competitor. Back in the woods, Alfie spots a couple in a car engaging in coitus, and attempts to ask for a lift back. They agree to help, once they have finished, and Alfie learns that the couple is actually a group of five. Fraser wins his rap battle.

Alfie and Miss Gulliver have a heart-to-heart, where Alfie apologises and states that his antics are merely failed attempts to impress her. They hug, and Alfie throws up on her back due to the berries. The group gets a lift back in a timely manner, and Miss Gulliver attempts to go on her date. He is waiting at the school to pick her up, and is revealed to be Finley, the older boy who had dumped Chantelle. She angrily chases him off, and is followed by Stephen, protesting that he's not worth it.

Back at the rap battle, Fraser is shown to have lost track of his students.