director / producer
“This is a sobering story, told with skill and compassion, and it is a compelling and devastating account.”
- The Guardian *****
“Subnormal does a superb if harrowing job of showing the human consequences of this institutional scandal”
- Radio Times
“… an emotive film but a well-researched one.”
- The Telegraph ****
“Lyttanya Shannon’s excellent documentary Subnormal: A British Scandal introduced some of the real-life casualties of this sinister disgrace, a crude and racist form of off-rolling.”
- The Times ****
“…fuelled by an anger that was never permitted to overwhelm the facts.”
- The Daily Mail ****
Documentary of the Week
- Radio Times.
Best TV of 2021 So Far
- The Guardian
Subnormal: A British Scandal tells the extraordinary story of the black parents and teachers who fought to expose one of the biggest injustices in the history of our education system. In the 60s and 70s, black children were sent to schools for the so-called ‘educationally subnormal’ at four times the rate of white children. The numbers were both disproportionate and disastrous, leaving thousands of children who were wrongly assessed, trapped in wholly inadequate schools.
Subnormal explores the main reasons behind this, and reveals a complex narrative surrounding controversies over race and intelligence, and how the two were conflated to justify the belief that black children were innately less intelligent, and more aggressive than their peers.
The imprint it left on the lives of the children, is revealed through first-time testimonies of those who attended. They’re supported by a notable cast of activists, educators and parents who were fighting against the policy at the time. The film also provides compelling evidence that disproportionate removals from mainstream education are still adversely impacting black children. Executive producers include Oscar-winning director, Sir Steve Mcqueen.
SHORTLISTED: Best History Programme - Grierson Awards
NOMINATED: Best Documentary - Amnesty International Media Awards
SELECTED: BAFTA Breakthrough Director
CREDITS
PRODUCTION COMPANIES: ROGAN PRODUCTIONS/LAMMAS PARK/turbine studios
comissioning editor: Emma loach
excutive producers: Sir steve mcqueen, james rogan, soleta rogan, Tracy Schoffield
senior producer: helen bart
assistant producer:Beya Kebelu
edit producer: ed Mcgowan
editors: simon Barker & esther gimeneZ
DOP: Charlie laing
Director/Producer/edit producer/camera: Lyttanya shannon
