The Young BAFTA Roadshow with Place2Be arrives in Southwark Primary School

Children at Surrey Square Primary in Southwark were surprised with a Young BAFTA Roadshow visit this week, hosted by award-winning TV journalist, presenter and author Ashley John-Baptiste.

Today, BAFTA and children’s mental health charity Place2Be returned to Surrey Square Primary School in Southwark to host a special visit from award-winning TV journalist, presenter and author Ashley John-Baptiste to share his inspirational story after the school named a class after him.

Born in South London, Ashley John-Baptiste grew up in care in Southwark, just a few miles from the school. After a teacher read his memoir, Looked After: A Childhood in Care, to her class, the teacher was so inspired by Ashley’s story of resilience and success that she named the class after him.

The school decided to name its classes after local inspirational figures - from scientists and athletes to authors, journalists and community champions.

BAFTA invited Ashley John-Baptiste to meet the students and share his own journey: from growing up in care to studying at the University of Cambridge, and ultimately, building a career as a journalist and presenter at the BBC with shows like Con or Cure and Expert Witness on BBC1 and Split Up In Care: Life Without Siblings on BBC3 as well as regular appearances on The One Show. The visit included a Q&A with pupils, discussions on overcoming adversity, and insights into the world of media and storytelling.

Ashley John-Baptiste has previously worked with Young BAFTA hosting Transferable Skills events and acting as a judge on the annual Young Presenters competition.

The Young BAFTA Roadshow with Place2Be is a nationwide series of primary school visits to some of the most disadvantaged areas in the UK that aims to champion creativity, inspire ambition, and build confidence through film, games and television. A Place2Be partner school since 1999, Surrey Square School, was the final visit of last year's Roadshow series, with the 2025 series kicking off this June in Bradford, with further visits planned across the UK.