WHEN THE CCC WENT BACK TO SCHOOL

 

THE BRIEF

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Founding Partner Ben Hoffmann filmed the original series of Educating Yorkshire in 2013 as a camera operator and still remembers both the shoot and the BAFTA nomination very fondly! He couldn’t have imagined a better full-circle moment than being given the opportunity to facilitate the full production over a decade later, on behalf of The Complete Camera Company.

 

Although the location was the same, the layout of the school was now quite different, so the team would need to meet new technical requirements to film in the various buildings. The goal was to establish how the major advancements in both kit and technology could benefit the new series, and The CCC wanted to keep the authentic feel that the audience loved, whilst delivering a higher quality, modernised product. 

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THE CHALLENGES

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The production required 66 cameras over 77 different positions; a significant undertaking, especially in a school.

The English department of the school was covered by 12 cameras, and used copper cables, while the remaining areas  of the school would all utilise fibre optic cable to connect to the gallery. Previously the gallery was in-front of the school, but was now relocated to the rear, by the gym.

This meant the production had the smallest possible footprint, avoiding traffic, and giving us the ability to double stack the Portacabins.

 

The rig took place over 8 full days. Numerous classrooms, offices and playgrounds were rigged with our Panasonic PTZ cameras on custom-made mounts. These mounts were adapted during the rig to accommodate specific areas where the students might gather or have exchanges with staff; one camera needed to be positioned by an exit, very high angle and waterproofed, so our team built bespoke structures that would meet each unique demand. 

 

We utilised a huge number of RadioMics and Atmos Mics to cover the large number of spaces the students would occupy, and we implemented a new Wisycom radiomic system with improved battery lifewhich really enhanced our ability to capture dialogue on location.

We tested these initially while the school was empty, but once 900 extra bodies arrived, we had to be quick to respond to the changes that were required – in this case more RF infrastructure and some changes in positioning.

We also needed to be extra prepared during the winter months as we faced snow and icy weather throughout the shoot, reducing access to kit and cables on roofs, and requiring more rigorous and regular checks beforehand.

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THE RESULTS

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The final series comprised 8x hour-long episodes that reached over 8 million viewers, who praised students for their openness and bravery. The series reportedly sparked important conversations in younger viewers about careers in education

or in youth work, and David Clews, Twofour Chief Creative Officer, said:

"The response to the return of Educating Yorkshire was a total joy.

Audiences once again embraced the warmth, humour, and humanity of life inside a modern British school.”

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We were able to follow stories quickly and efficiently, with two filming teams covering numerous lessons

and offices at the same time, so that nothing was missed in an unpredictable and fast-paced environment. Series 2 has now been BAFTA nominated too and Educating Yorkshire has been recommissioned for filming in 2026.

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Facts & Figures

Filmed: October / November 2024

Aired: September 2025

Channel: Channel 4

Location: Leeds

Viewers: 8.7 Million

Cameras: 66

 

Critical Acclaim

“The comeback of Channel 4’s fly-on-the-wall series is perfectly timed. It’s a moving, uplifting look at

how children can shine with support. What a tonic for all the bad news stories about education in Britain.”

– The Guardian

 

“If I wasn’t crying during Educating Yorkshire’s first episode, I was belly-laughing.

Children are the unrivalled comedy geniuses.”

– METRO

 

“Educating Yorkshire: a 'quietly groundbreaking' documentary.”

– The Week