Ackley Bridge

After years of racial segregation in the community, two previously isolated high schools combine to form Ackley Bridge College. On opening day, class troublemaker Jordan causes an incident and headmistress Mandy clashes with her husband, PE teacher Steve.

Forced to sneak a baby into school, Jordan blackmails Steve for help. Vivacious student Missy plots a way to get back at her former best friend, Nasreen, but her plan backfires when rumors about the two circulate around school.

Nasreen confesses to Missy about kissing her science teacher, Lila, but Nasreen’s father returns home with surprising news. While Mandy feels guilty over her affair with the school sponsor, Sadiq, Steve forms a rugby team and recruits feuding students Cory and Riz, Sadiq’s son.

Missy awakes to a huge shock but keeps it a secret to protect her younger sister. Lila comes out of the closet to stop her colleague’s advances, but her private life soon becomes public knowledge.

While Missy skips school, Nasreen argues with her mother about her father’s wish to send Nasreen to Pakistan for an arranged marriage. Before the school’s first big rugby game, Steve can’t bring himself to forgive Mandy for her affair, and he lashes out at Sadiq.

Mandy plans an Open Day at Ackley Bridge to encourage prospective students and their parents to enroll, but an outburst from Jordan and a surprise speech from Sadiq’s daughter, Alya, derail the event.