TV head hits back over internet
abuse as pupils pull in viewers

Jonny Mitchell said there had been “outrageously offensive” material posted on Twitter and Facebook following the first two episodes of the show about life at Thornhill Community Academy, near Dewsbury.

He also warned an account on Twitter called @educatingyorks and a linked Facebook site are not official ones run by Channel 4 or anyone connected to the show.

On Thursday night this twitter feed republished several offensive messages left by other people about some pupils.

Mr Mitchell said; “Unfortunately there are people who think this is an official account and that the Facebook site is connected to the series but it isn’t.”

A Channel 4 spokeswoman confirmed the @educatingyorks feed was not an official account and said the channel was seeking to contact the people behind it to get them to make it clear it was not linked to the show.

Mr Mitchell told the Yorkshire Post all the pupils who featured heavily in the series gave consent to appear and have been given guidance on how to use social media, with support from the school, Channel 4 and a team of psychologists.

Educating Yorkshire attracted audiences of 3.3 million on Thursday night – almost double the amount its predecessor Educating Essex received and was the most watched programme at 9pm.

The academy has already received seven applications from pupils wanting to switch from other schools and Mr Mitchell, his staff and students have been heavily praised on social networks and in direct messages.

“After the first show went out we had just short of 1,000 emails and I would say 985 were extremely positive praising our approach,” Mr Mitchell added.

Both the first two episodes featured hard-hitting storylines with allegations of racist name calling, pensioners being attacked with snowballs and allegations of bullying and a scuffle in the corridor in Thursday night.

One of the main characters in this show, who was filmed being denied the chance to go to the end of year prom because of her behaviour, has been singled out for abuse on her own Twitter account.

Mr Mitchell said the school, Channel 4, and the production company TwoFour had offered support to pupils before the show was aired.

“We always knew this week’s was going to be a tough show but it gets lighter from now on,” he said. “The reaction from the local community has been really positive and that is the most important thing. We have had seven in-year applications to join us.

“At the moment we are under subscribed. We’re obviously not happy with that and if I can get an extra 20 bums on seats each year I know we’ll be able to give these pupils the best education with the proper funding.”

Although the series so far has focused on how the school deals with disciplinary issues there have also been positive story lines, including that of 13-year-old Ryan Ward who campaigned in a school election.

The pupil’s deadpan deliveries and “wisdom beyond his years” have made him an instant hit with invites to appear on the Alan Titchmarsh Show.

“Ryan has taken it in his stride. It’s the kind of person he is,” Mr Mitchell said. “When we were preparing to go on the Titchmarsh Show he was more relaxed than myself or the other teacher Mr [Matthew] Burton. Ryan saw we were nervous and said ‘Just chill out boys’.”