Channel 4 has confirmed that Educating Yorkshire will return next year.
It’s ten years since the Twofour series attracted millions to watch the Thornhill Community Academy in Dewsbury. It won Baftas and Emmys and made stars of Year 11 student Musharaf and his inspirational English teacher Mr Burton.
Despite going back to Thornhil, the new series will be a “reinvention of the brand.” Plus a lot has changed, not least, Mr Burton, who has stepped up and he’s now in charge of the school – his first role as Head Teacher.
“I’m excited to welcome Twofour back into our school over the coming months,” he said.
“The national challenges the profession faces are well publicised, and at Thornhill, I’m really proud of how our staff and students work together to thrive through those. Our values – ‘work hard and be nice’ – are at the centre of all we do; I have no doubt that viewers will see those come to life in our brilliant community.”
Cameras are expected to uncover a rising tide of teenage anxiety, exam and friendship pressure, a national attendance crisis and the impact of mobile phones and social media. Plus the teaching profession is having a tough time too. It is harder than ever to recruit new teachers, across the country nearly a third leave the job within five years.
The series will be filmed over 2024/2025 and aims to be broadcast by the end of next year.
David Clews and Grace Reynolds, who both created the original Educating brand, will Executive Produce, alongside David Brindley. Francesca Kybert is Production Executive.
“Telling the complex story of young people in Britain in 2025 is crucial for Channel 4, and what better way to do so than through this iconic, much-loved school,” said Rita Daniels, Commissioning Editor.
“It will be fantastic to see Mr Burton in charge, and I look forward to watching him seize the reigns with full gusto. Much has changed for British teenagers since we were last at Thornhill Academy, and it will be fascinating to see how practices have developed and adapted since the burgeoning impact of social media, the covid epidemic and the intense pressure to deliver good results.”
David Clews, Twofour Chief Creative Director, added:
“Making the Educating series was a highlight of my career and I couldn’t be happier to be going back to a school we know and love to make something brand new and reflective of the world we live in today. Schools and young people deserve an honest and joyful portrayal on our screens and we can’t wait to work with a brilliant team to create that.”
As part of this production 4Skills will fund the training and development of a number of roles, working closely with Twofour to identify opportunities for Yorkshire-based talent to progress in different areas of the production.
Twofour is part of ITV Studios.
