Ahead of the Class with Julie Walters Tonight ITV1

[RTKangaMummy]

Ahead of the Class

Drama with Julie Walters

ITV1 9pm

Tonight

[lowcalCOD]

is it good?
how come you are such a tv freak?
do you watch lal of thes progs?

[MistressMary]

oh love julie walters

[noddyholder]

looks good but have to watch the bachelor on bbc3 at the same time best show on tv

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

I'm looking forward to it, I like Julie Walters.

Kanga - when is nip/tuck coming on, I know it's moved to sky - I'm frightened I'll miss Julian!

[RTKangaMummy]

Based on Marie Stubbs' novel. Top-draw drama as a headteacher saves an inner-city school from closure

Coddy I watch most of them while mumsnetting

I just like to help people so they don't miss programmes they were looking forward to because they are on Mumsnet.

[gingerbear]

based on the true story- when Stephen Lawrence (head teacher)was stabbed to death outside the school in London, later school on special measures, then a retired head took over and turned school around - Julie Walters plays the retired head.

[Tommy]

really want to watch this as I did a short teaching practice in this school (a long time ago)and it put me off teaching!

[RTKangaMummy]

42 mins

[RTKangaMummy]

18 mins

[RTKangaMummy]

5 mins

[flashingnose]

Did anyone see this?

[anorak]

Yes. We didn't make it to the end I'm afraid. Julie Walters was brilliant as always but the story was full of cliches and not presented in a believable way.

If not for JW we would have given up ages before.

[CountessDracula]

I thought it was very uplifting

[flashingnose]

I have to say, I thought it was uplifting as well - even though there were plenty of cliches, the point was it was a true story, she really did turn the school round that quickly and that successfully.

[flashingnose]

But the thought that this is what schools can be like made me feel quite ill .

[anorak]

I'm glad she turned the school around so successfully, but I can't believe it was represented correctly.

It just didn't seem believable to us. Obviously it did happen, but I don't think it could have been an accurate representation of exactly how it happened. Real people just don't behave like that.

[coppertop]

I was looking forward to this but thought it had far too many cheesey moments in it. Julie Walters was great but the script needed some help. I kept expecting the kind of background music you get in those true story films that Channel 5 shows in the afternoons.

[Metrobaby]

I enjoyed this too. I want to buy the book now . She struck me as a very inspirational woman.

[Yurtgirl]

Message withdrawn

[Yurtgirl]

Message withdrawn

[happymerryberries]

It took 18 months to 'do' what took 2 hours in the film, so things were abbreviated.

I call my pupils 'children' sometimes, because they are. I also call them ladies and gentlemen, because many of them are and I want the rest to be too.

They are not adults and while I always treat then with respect it isn't helpful to treat them as adults.

[winnie]

I read about this and wanted to watch it, but saw trailers and Julie Waters character reminded me too much of Acorn Antiques and I just couldn't face it

[flashingnose]

hmb, did the behaviour in the school bear any resemblance to what happens in yours?

[popsycal]

Did anyone tape this?