Stepping Up

Alfie and Dylan have been best friends since primary school – they’re the Cloudwatch Club, watching cloud formations from Dylan’s cubby-house roof. But when Dylan calls for Alfie on the way to their first day at school, Alfie’s astonished to find that Dylan’s had a make-over – cool shades, funky hair and a funny way of doing his tie. While Dylan reinvents himself as a cool kid, Alfie teams up with the nerds in the library. Can their friendship survive?

Eleven-year-old Jack’s world is turned upside down when dad Tim comes back into his life on his first day of high school. His step-dad Ellis isn't happy but father and son arrange to meet up. There’s just one problem: Tim’s taking him to a Liverpool game but Jack’s an Evertonian, just like Ellis. But if his dad’s taking him to the Liverpool game, what team is Jack supposed to support?

Becky Tyler is a real tomboy – sporty, best mates with Gerome and a massive roller derby fan. But change is round the corner – an all girls secondary school, where football and trousers are banned. Arriving on her first day with stylish older sister Mel, Becky’s a fish out of water. The school is full of girls with the latest accessory, a tiny bag with animal ears, which couldn't be more different from Becky’s skate bag. Worse still, her friend Dol is wearing something completely alien to Becky – a bra.

Polly isn't good at making friends; she’s much happier seeing the world through the camera on her mobile phone – even though they’re banned at her new school. Polly’s an investigative reporter and she wants to be left alone, despite the attentions of eager classmate Charlie. Back at home, Polly’s widowed dad Pete is also happier with machines than people and although he tries his best, it’s not just Polly who struggles to communicate – Polly clearly misses her film buff mum. But Polly’s investigations take a dramatic turn when she accidentally films Serena, the most popular girl at school, bullying the new kids for money. But if she’s not meant to be using her camera in school, who can she tell?

Owain is dreading his first day of secondary school. Recently moved to Manchester from Wales, he’s desperate to go back home. His only friend is pet hen Bronwyn, much to his parent’s concern. Owain worries that people will think he’s like his troublemaker brothers, so it’s his worst nightmare when they wind up mouthy classmate Sophia. At least Owain finds a friend in Sophia’s victim, Kurdish refugee Zana - but when he discovers that pet hen Bronwyn has vanished from her coop it’s the final straw; Owain persuades Zana to bunk a train to Wales…