School TV gets top marks with viewers

The series showing life inside Thornhill Community Academy, near Dewsbury, launched on Channel 4 with a hard-hitting episode showing staff having to deal with issues ranging from allegations of racial abuse to a snowball attack on a pensioner.

The one-hour show is one of eight which have been put together using footage which has been captured by 64 cameras around the school.

Ahead of the first show head teacher Jonny Mitchell spoke of his nervousness about how it would be received by the watching audience.

The majority of comments on Twitter last night seemed to be largely positive although there were several mocking pupils’ appearance.

Staff and students were being singled out for praise with both Mr Mitchell and year eight pupil Ryan Ward – who comes across as an old head on young shoulders - trending on Twitter - meaning they were one of the most popular topics of conversation on the website.

Pop star Kimberley Walsh from Girls Aloud was among those praising the teenager while writer Caitlin Moran tweeted: “Ryan on Educating Yorkshire is the new best thing ever. A latte-drinking 11-year-old asked to be a prefect.”

One Direction pop star Louis Tomlinson, from Doncaster, wrote: “ ‏Little Ryan on Educating Yorkshire is a legend He should be on children’s TV”

Educating Yorkshire is a follow up to the Bafta-award winning series Educating Essex and has been put together by the same team at TwoFour productions.

Last night two of the stars of the original show, which followed Passmores Academy in Harlow, were among the first to praise the school near Dewsbury.

Passmores principal Vic Goddard said: “Well done to Jonny Mitchell and the team. Congratulations to TwoFour productions for sharing the humanity.”

Stephen Drew, who was deputy head in the Educating Essex series said: “Love it already. You see Britain: this is what we do all over the country for your children every day.”

Mr Mitchell, who was born and raised in Dewsbury says he hopes the show will help to make Thornhill Community Academy the school of choice for parents in the area.