Time: 63 Minutes
Cast:
Kenyah Sandy as Kingsley Smith
Sharlene Whyte as Agnes Smith
Tamara Lawrance as Stephanie Smith
Daniel Francis as Esmond Smith
Josette Simon as Lydia Thomas
Naomi Ackie as Hazel
Director: Steve McQueen

Education is the coming of age story of 12-year-old Kingsley (Kenyah Sandy), who has a fascination for astronauts and rockets. When Kingsley is pulled to the headmaster’s office for being disruptive in class, he discovers he’s being sent to a school for those with “special needs.” Distracted by working two jobs, his parents (Sharlene Whyte, Daniel Francis) are unaware of the unofficial segregation policy at play, preventing many Black children from receiving the education they deserve, until a group of West Indian women take matters into their own hands.

As the final instalment of Steve McQueen’s Small Axe anthology series, Education delivers.

The Small Axe films are about systemic racism, and within this, Education highlights on a different area, as it focusses on a young black boy facing injustice in the education system. It’s an informative portrait of systemic racism within the British schooling system, and really exposes the way that children of minorities are undermined and have been cheated out of receiving proper education. It’s impactful, powerful and emotionally affecting yet very tender, and there’s a sense of hope at the end. Education was a good choice for the last movie for Small Axe, as they end the series on the most hopeful story. I do feel that much like the previous Small Axe movie Alex Wheatle, Education could’ve benefitted from a longer runtime, considering that its only 63 minutes long. Still, they do a lot within that runtime with the characters and themes.

Like the previous movies, Education benefits from some wonderful performances by actors including Kenyah Sandy, Sharlene Whyte, and Tamara Lawrence.

Steve McQueen’s direction is typically great and masterfully crafted. It’s incredibly shot and edited, and probably has the most naturalistic style of the 5 Small Axe movies.

While it could’ve been longer, Small Axe: Education is really good, well made with solid performances, and is a damning portrait of racism in the schooling system. It’s a great conclusion to Steve McQueen’s Small Axe anthology.