A light-hearted drama series about an inner-city academy school in Salford, starring Julie Hesmondhalgh

Yvette Miller is acting head of a Salford secondary school that has just joined Quays Academy Trust, a successful group of academies headed by the charismatic Sir Ken - a keen advocate of freeing schools from the shackles of Local Education oversight. Yvette, meanwhile, is somewhat more sceptical. How will she - and East Salford Academy - fit within the new regime?

As the school, students, and staff, deal with contemporary events, from budgeting difficulties and school branding to Covid-19 lockdowns, catch-up initiatives and staff restructuring, Yvette must keep an even head as she steers the school through new and choppy waters. How do you vaccinate an entire body of students (and staff)? What does it take to keep the teaching union rep happy? And exactly how much hand sanitiser can one school need?

With Julie Hesmondhalgh (Coronation Street, Happy Valley) and Jonathan Keeble (War and Peace, Confessions of a Medium), this witty, insightful drama offers a playful view into modern schooling and all its attendant commotions.

Written by Jonathan Hall

Directed and produced by Gary Brown

Cast:

Yvette - Julie Hesmondhalgh

Sir Ken / Eugene - Jonathan Keeble

Andy - Rupert Hill

Tim - Ashley Margolis

Joy / Tannoy / Carol - Susan Twist

Sidrah - Purvi Parmar

Emily - Molly Ehrenberg-Peters

Dhruti - Mina Anwar

Terry - Sushil Chudasama

Marigold / Candice / Wendy - Verity Henry

Moey / Mr Ayhan - Abdullah Afzal

Chris - Jake Ferretti

Nicki - Erin Shanagher

Ryan - Daniel Luke Jeffrey

Dave - Lloyd Peters

Billy - Jason Done

Gunner - James Quinn

Students - Thomas Roberts, Royia Tierney, Iestyn Sofield, Rheanon Shaw, Lauren Taylor

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates:

7 September - 9 September 2020 (Series 1)

28 September - 29 September 2021 (Series 2)

8 August - 10 August 2022 (Series 3)