School TV documentary hailed for highlighting impact of stammering

CAMPAIGNERS have praised the last episode of the Educating Yorkshire television series for highlighting the need to support young people who stammer.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Oct 2013, 01:01 BST

The show, being aired this evening on Channel 4, features a pupil called Musharaf, who has a severe stammer, as he prepares for his GCSE English oral exam.

It will show Thornhill Community Academy’s assistant headteacher Matthew Burton trying a range of unusual techniques to improve Musharaf’s fluency.

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The British Stammering Association (BSA) has hailed the episode which it hopes will raise awareness of the issue. BSA education officer Cherry Hughes said: “Stammering is not well understood and sometimes is mimicked and a subject of mockery in society. It is refreshing that Educating Yorkshire has highlighted the impact of having a stammer at school and provides a platform to talk about ways to support young people like Musharaf.”

Tonight’s episode marks the end of the eight-part documentary showing life inside the school. The footage has been edited together from 64 fixed cameras which were set up around the school.

Tomorrow’s Yorkshire Post includes an interview with headteacher Jonny Mitchell about the success of the series.

Related topics:Channel 4GCSE