Ahead of the Class is a single British television drama film, based on the book of the same name by Marie Stubbs, that first broadcast on ITV on 30 January 2005.

Adapted for television by Robert Jones and directed by Adrian Shergold, the film stars Julie Walters as Stubbs, a diminutive Glaswegian headmistress who takes on the challenge of improving the fortunes of St George's Roman Catholic Secondary School in North West London.

Reece Dinsdale and Hannah Yelland are credited as the other two principal cast members, who star as Stubbs' deputies, Sean Devlin and Tracy O'Leary respectively.

The film was shot on location at the former Kingsland Secondary School in Dalston, Hackney, London.

The school is suffering from a multitude of problems, including bullying, gang culture, persistent absence and vandalism.