I would tend to disagree with you Ladybird, Yes the teaching methods of the English teacher are questionable, but when you have children that have not even gone to an english class for a whole year, you need to do something to come down on to their level and help them learn in a way that will keep their attention.

Did you watch the show last week?
Phil - the English teacher - showed each child where their intellegence lay, most of them are not book smart (mainly because they dont bother to go or pay attention in traditional schooling) but each identified their own strengths so that they could learn in a way that suited them... most of the kids needed to move frequently, so sitting in a class room of hours at a time would make them fidget and become restless, they would then stuff around and then disrupt the class.

In the introduction classes he taught them about punctuation, in a far from traditional method, they got up made noises and moved around and were able to enjoy a class, I actually still giggle when using the apostrophe and want to make the noises ... the aim of the 2 week teaching is so that they learn they are actually intelligent enough to sit through a traditional class (most when describing themselves used the words dumb and thick)

Dale unfortunately was turned away, he actually was one of the most intelligent there and had never been sent out of a class, probably as he was able to complete enough work in each class, however what message is it sending to the other kids, that you can flaunt the rules and be given a second chance? for most this is the last chance that they are ever going to get.

Fiona - in last weeks episode, we met the kids and saw what they were like in their school environment (pretty appalling really) the went on the introduction camp, where they met the teachers and the other kids and were given the ground rules, then sent back home before starting the actual camp.
Also several of the teachers in the schools that these kids came from, underwent training so that they can incorporate some of the teaching methods into their classes.

I can hear the arguments now, 20 years ago these kids would be disciplined more effectively and there would not have been the issue etc etc etc.
(just want to say before i go one, that i am not passing judgement directly at anyone, nor am i saying that these things are what causes all the problems in children)
But the fact of the matter is that kids now a days do lack disapline, not necessarily due to poor parenting, but becasue of the increased incident of parents returning to work, due to finacial stressors, and relying of careers and teachers to teach some of these priciples...
Also due to incredibly processed foods, additives etc etc ADHD and food allergies/intolerances, reactions etc are on the rise
The other thing is that parents are increasingly trying to be their childs friend and do not want to be the bad parent that enforces all the rules, and in doing this kids are loosing their guides and mentors into the adult world...
of course there are many other reasons that influence and have an impact on these children's behaviours

So we have kids that misbehave more so than ever before, i think that this is a great way of addressing the issue, traditional schooling is not working for these kids, so one of two things can occur, We give a different method a try, or we give up on them and kick them out so that the kids that appear to want to be at school can learn.

There is nothing to loose really and everything to gain, and Ladybird, i am sorry to disagree but i think that it is insulting their intelligence by not giving them a chance a learning in a new way and giving them the opportunity to learning in a safe an non threatening way, where they do not need to fear giving the wrong answer, where the smarter kids wont look down their noses at the 'dummies in the back' for giving it a go.

just MO though of course