Troublemaker Jordan disrupts the first day of the new, integrated school when he "rewrites" the school rules, angering many of the Muslim pupils. English teacher Emma gets the surprise of her life when she finds out that she'll be working with ex-boyfriend Sami. She gets a double surprise when her 15-year-old daughter Chloe bursts into her classroom drunk, having caught an Uber from Peckham.

Episode 1 of 6

Drama

Ackley Bridge is a Yorkshire mill town, home to largely divided white and Asian populations. Like the communities, the school systems have also become segregated. However as two formerly isolated comprehensives are merged into a brand new academy, Ackley Bridge College, the lives and cultures of each are set to collide. 

Ackley Bridge

Series 1

As two schools are merged into one, lives and cultures are set to collide.

Jordan finds himself in charge of a baby that he has to sneak into school. He blackmails Steve into helping him out. Missy agrees that if Cory sleeps with Nas she'll sleep with Cory. However she soon discovers Cory has a loose tongue and that the whole school thinks this is an open opportunity.

Episode 2 of 6

Missy convinces Nas to make a play for her teacher Lila but Nas is delivered a curveball when her dad announces that he's arranging a marriage for her to a boy in Pakistan. Confused and emotional, Nas appeals to Lila for help but Lila draws a line under their friendship before anything develops. Elsewhere a guilt stricken Mandy ends things with Sadiq and throws herself back into her marriage.

Episode 3 of 6

Missy finds Nana dead in the bath. In shock, Missy goes to school and, worried that social services will take Hayley into care, keeps Nana's death a secret but ends up betraying it herself when she has to ask Emma for money to organise Nana's cremation.

Episode 4 of 6

Kaneez is initially furious to discover that Nas is considering the arranged marriage, but Nas brings her round. However, the pressure of planning the wedding and her web of lives leads Nas to break down on her mum and confess that she is gay. Meanwhile, while focusing on helping Missy get Hayley back and straighten out Simone, Emma neglects Chloe on her birthday, sending Chloe off the rails.

Episode 5 of 6

Mandy's professional life collides with her personal life when Alya outs her and Sadiq's affair at the school's first Open Day. As Mandy fights for her job, Steve comes to her rescue and their relationship is repaired. However, Mandy chooses to put her pupils before her career when Missy needs support at the hearing for Hayey's care order.