[2] The follow-up to Educating the East End was announced by Channel 4 on 9 December 2014.

Executive producer David Clews revealed "you can really feel the charm and character of the place as soon as you walk through the gates and start talking to the students".

Joy Ballard initially declined TwoFour's invitation before changing her mind a month later.

In preparation for the programme she took advice from Jonny Mitchell, head of Thornhill Community Academy in Educating Yorkshire.

The first six weeks of production saw the documentary makers observing the school and "picking up stories".