The BAFTA-winning hit Channel 4 show Educating Greater Manchester is returning to screens for a brand new series tonight, but it’s been a bumpy ride to get here.
Harrop Fold School in Little Hulton is once again opening its doors to the British public.
The first series of the Greater Manchester instalment of the fly-on-the-wall documentary show aired back in 2017, which makes this new series the first time the Educating… programme has returned to the same facility more than once.
Despite the late-2020 air date, filming for this new series actually took place in the school back in 2018, but the episodes were put on hold from hitting screens during what was a tumultuous time for the institution and senior leadership staff.
The school was placed into ‘special measures’ by education standards board Ofsted, and was then being investigated over ‘off-rolling’ allegations suggesting children were removed from the register to make the institution appear like it was achieving better results than it was in reality.
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Four members of senior staff were subsequently suspended amid investigations, with Headmaster and show figure-head Drew Povey eventually tendering his resignation shortly after.
Announcing his stepping down from the role formally via Twitter in 2018, Mr Povey said at the time: “It is with a very heavy heart that I am writing to tender my resignation as executive head of Harrop Fold School with immediate effect.
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“As you are aware, there is an investigation under way.
He continued: “Despite the alleged need for swift action to be taken earlier in the year, the investigation process itself has been allowed to drag on, causing damage to the reputation of the school and to me personally. Parents and pupils are unsettled, and the media are speculating as to what has gone on that is so serious to warrant my suspension and that of three other members of staff.
“I am at a loss to understand the ‘heavy handed’ approach adopted by the council, which appears to have completely ignored the best interests of the students, staff and school.”
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Harrop Fold School has since been taken under the wing of the United Learning Academy Trust.
The prospect of the pre-filmed episodes ever making it to screens was all very up in the air, but now, just over two years after the situation unfolded, Channel 4 has given the green light to begin showing the series from this evening.
So, what can viewers expect from the first episode hitting screens this evening?
According to the official Channel 4 preview, the series offers “a real but warm snapshot of life in a British school”.
“There is also a catch-up with some of the much-loved pupils from the previous series: cheeky Vincent, who’s now going into Year 10 and claims he’s a reformed character; and Katelyn, who struggled to focus last time but now wants to get her head down.
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“The series also explore the ups and downs through the eyes of some of the teachers.”
“The school’s Year 7s already have a reputation among staff for being the naughtiest yet. There’s Jacob who opens up about his struggles with dyslexia [and] the school is on high alert after a member of the public calls in claiming to have seen a Harrop Fold pupil with a knife, forcing Mr Povey and his staff to instigate bag searches to find the culprit.
“Year 9 Katelyn is desperate to become a midwife but keeps bunking off lessons [and] Mr Povey worries that if she doesn’t knuckle down she will end up missing out on her dream.
“And the staff crack down on pupils at the centre of a lucrative black market at the school, selling chocolate sweets and drinks to their classmates.”
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Educating Greater Manchester is airing on Channel 4 tonight at 9:15pm.
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Package holiday company launches new flights from Manchester to European ‘hidden gem’
Emily Sergeant
An affordable package holiday company has launched new flights from Manchester to one of Europe’s so-called ‘hidden gems’.
If you fancy taking a trip to tiny country tucked away in the middle of two major continents, then Holiday Best, one of the UK’s newest holiday package operators – which also happens to boast the lowest deposit on the market at just £25 per person, too – has recently launched new package holidays to Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi.
Running in partnership with Turkish Airlines, the flights have now launched from a handful of major UK airports – including Manchester Airport.
And the best bit? There’s even trips available to book in time for the Easter holidays.
If you don’t know too much about Georgia’s capital city, Tbilisi was often once thought of as one of eastern Europe and the Asian continent’s “hidden gems” – but now, the picturesque place has become a truly modern and diverse city, with a hybrid of influences.
The old town of the capital is full of historic architecture, with a wide range of restaurants designed to make you fall in love with Georgian cuisine, while the outskirts are surrounded by the remote mountains of Svaneti – which some even say rival the Swiss and French Alps, not only in their beauty, but also in their hiking opportunities.
So it’s not hard to see why the city has cemented itself as a popular city break and holiday destination for many tourists, right?
Georgia’s capital Tbilisi is described as being a truly modern and diverse city / Credit: Nina Matcharashvili (via Unsplash)
If it sounds like a country up your street, and you’re keen to book yourself a well-deserved break away, then Holiday Best is currently running a deals for seven-night bed and breakfast stays flying from Manchester Airport, with 20kg baggage allowance and private transfers included – with prices ranging around the £925 mark per person.
A stunning range of four and five-star hotels in Tbilisi are included as part of this new Georgian package holiday offering, so there’s bound to be something in everyone’s budget.
These include the four-star Tbilisi Times Boutique Hotel, with its unique and memorable decor starting at £465pp, and the five-star Grand Tbilisi Metekhi Palace that has a rooftop restaurant and bar, as well as being known for its world-class service.
This company is looking to pay ‘young jetsetters’ to travel the world for FREE
Emily Sergeant
How would you like to travel the world for free? It’s not a bad offer, we’ll say that.
While we know it may sound a little too good to be true, especially for those who love nothing more than the feeling of hopping on a plane, leaving the typical often-dreary Greater Manchester weather behind, and stepping off into the heat of another country, but there’s genuinely a company out there that’s currently looking to pay young people to travel.
That’s right – leading youth, student, and adventure travel company KILROY has put out a call for ‘young globetrotters’ aged between 20 and 25 with a passion for content creation who fancy winning themselves, what can only be described as, “the trip of a lifetime”.
The company has launched a brand-new competition to hire one young British adventurer to join an international lineup of eight recruits for its revamped ‘Explorer Program’ – which is an extraordinary opportunity for budding nomads to bag a life-defining travel experience that’s worth up to €5,000 (or £4,280).
KILROY is looking to pay ‘young jetsetters’ to travel the world for free / Credit: Justin Besson | Dan Gold (via Unsplash)
The lucky young Brit will become KILROY ambassador, and get the chance to explore a range of experiences – including backpacking, volunteering, and group tours across the world over an unforgettable few weeks, all while sharing photos and videos from their adventure to KILROY’s website and social media channels.
Essentially, it’s like an all-expenses paid gap year.
South Korea, China, Argentina, Tanzania, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, Fiji, and Vietnam are just some of the thrilling destinations the lucky winners could in with the chance of travelling to.
Chile, Cambodia, and Northern India are a couple more on the expansive destination list.
Fancy it then? If you’re aged between 20 and 25, and are keen to apply, then you’ll just need to “showcase your creativity, passion, and content creation skills” through a one-minute TikTok or Instagram video.
In the video, you’ll need to introduce yourself and your dream travel destination, and then share either an unexpected travel experience, unusual travel tips, tricks and hacks, or an existing or budding passion or skill.
Applicants must follow and tag the KILROY UK social media accounts – @kilroy_uk on TikTok and @kilroy_uk on Instagram – and include their name, age, and dream destination in the caption when posting their video, as well as the hashtag #explorerprogram2024 to enter.
All entries will need to be submitted by midnight on the 11 April 2024 to avoid missing out, and you can visit the ‘Explorer Program’ page on the KILROY website here for all the T&Cs.