1Episode #1.1
Two segregated schools, one for whites, the other Asian, combine to form Ackley Bridge college, under headmistress Mandy Carter, with her partner Steve Bell the games master and local businessman Sadiq Nawan its sponsor. Disruptive pupil Jordan Wilson causes trouble with racist jibes whilst the lack of integration is obvious when the boys choose from their own ethnic groups for the football sides. Unconventional English teacher Emma Keane is pleased to re-encounter old flame Sami Quereshi, the liaison officer but less so when her daughter Chloe arrives after falling out with Emma's ex-husband and a row between them leads to Chloe posting topless pictures of her mother online. Student Missy Booth falls out with best friend Nas after Missy's drunken mother Simone turns up at the school and Steve, taunted by Jordan over his suspicion that Mandy and Sadiq are having an affair, hits him. All in all an eventful first day - for the wrong reasons.
2Episode #1.2
Left literally holding the baby he allegedly fathered with the older Candice Jordan agrees not to report Steve for striking him if Steve will hide the baby for him for a day, leading to a fight with Candice's brothers and a shock for Mandy - driving her closer to Sadiq. Samir does his best to act a peace-maker between Chloe and Emma whilst Missy bribes the promiscuous Cody to sleep with Nas for revenge. However the plan backfires on her when word gets out that sex with Missy is the actual reward and the two girls reconcile after recovering money stolen by Simone from her mother. Nas also makes a confession which surprises Missy.
3Episode #1.3
Missy encourages Nas to make a play for lesbian teacher Lila who tells her a relationship is impossible though they still end up kissing. Mas's father Iqbal returns from Pakistan, having arranged a marriage for her with a wealthy family, to save his ailing business. His wife, out-spoken dinner lady Kaneez is furious. In an effort to encourage integration Steve assembles a mixed race rugby team, which is a huge success. On a visit to Sadiq's house to arrange his sponsorship of the side's strip his son Riz catches him kissing Mandy but soon afterwards both Mandy and Sadiq agree to end their affair. Chloe agrees to a date with Cory - until Missy's sister Hayley tells her what he is after - whilst Emma is disappointed by a confession from Samir.
4Episode #1.4
Missy is shocked to find the beloved Nana with whom she and Hayley live has suddenly died and, to prevent the under-age Hayley going into care, lies to the police, saying Simone lives with them though she refuses to have her mother back. Emma spots that something is wrong and pays for the funeral but Hayley still goes to live with foster parents. Steve agrees to help Jordan take a DNA test regarding the paternity of Candice's baby but is unforgiving when Mandy admits to her fling with Sadiq. To ward off colleague Will Simpson's overtures Lila explains that she is a lesbian, to a mixed response and disappointment for Nas.
5Episode #1.5
Kaneez is appalled when Nas appears to be compliant with Iqbal's plan to take her to Pakistan to meet her future husband and has a heart to heart with Nas, who admits her sexuality but does not get a sympathetic response. However Missy encourages Kaneez to support her daughter and find another way out. Chloe feels rejected as a result of Emma's concern for Missy and a birthday party Emma throws for her as a peace-offering gets out of hand, requiring advice from Samir. Missy is also accusing of Emma for reporting Nana's death but Emma persuades Simone to return home to keep the family together. Jordan gets the result of his DNA test but Sadiq is not happy that Mandy has told Steve of their fling and will be less so when he knows that his son Riz has told his sister Alia.
6Episode #1.6
His affair exposed by Alya in a speech at the school's open day Sadiq is dismissed by the board of governors and is outraged that Mandy is kept on, especially as she and Steve reconcile whereas his own family reject him. The Booth sisters attend a care hearing regarding their future, which looks to be doomed until Simone, encouraged by Emma, turns up to save the day whilst Nas explains to Lila that she is happy to end their affair. Jordan, discovering Cory to be the father of Candice's child, vents his anger by stealing Steve's car and goes joy-riding with Chloe, still feeling neglected by her mother. On their return, Emma, appreciating that Chloe needs her, rejects Samir's offer to get back with him in order to be a better parent.
1Episode #2.1
Drunk on cider Nas and Missy rob Jordan of money he owes a drug dealer, getting him into trouble. Still carrying a torch for Samir Emma finds herself in bed with sports teacher Will but turns down a further date. She also gives Kaneez a nerve-racking driving lesson on the first day of school , where Nas and Naveed put on a show for their sham engagement. Eye-brows are raised but Nas is more shocked to learn that her father Iqbal has been living locally with another woman and their children for years, a fact known to Kaneez. As a result Nas cancels the engagement. Mandy meanwhile makes syllabus changes following poor exam results, which puts her into conflict with pupils and Emma.
2Episode #2.2
In debt to his drug dealer and for payment of Cory's son's christening Jordan unsuccessfully tries to steal two alpacas but is caught, resulting in a beating from his violent father. With her mother also in debt Missy truants to work in a burger van but is persuaded by Mandy to return to school to act in a play - an idea by Emma to restore harmony to Ackley Bridge. Missy also finds herself falling for Nas's handsome half-brother Aaaron. Mandy ultimately reconciles with Steve after his ex-partner Claire arouses her jealousy whilst Kaneez tells her children they have her permission to visit her duplicitous husband.
3Episode #2.3
After rowing with science teacher Rashid Hyatt over his view that her daughter Alya has learning problems Kaneez goes on a date with him, having realized how much she wasted her life as an obedient wife to Iqbal. She also warms to Aaron, as do the whole Booth family as they accept that Missy's dating him makes her feel happy and secure. Emma successfully drums up her cast for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' but rejects the besotted Will's declaration of love for her to continue her affair with the married Samir.
4Episode #2.4
Nas meets a possible girlfriend in footballer Megan but finds her too intense and makes her escape, confessing her sexuality to an understanding Aaaron. Mandy crosses swords again with Sadiq whilst Rashid is pleased that Kaneez agrees to another date. Samir is shocked to find that his reprobate brother Khadim is employing Jordan to sell drugs for him and attempts to help but things do not go well, leaving Emma in despair.
5Episode #2.5
Samir's murder has its impact on the school, especially Emma, who blames Jordan, whilst Nas links up with possible Internet date Sameera - until Missy discovers that she is not what she seems to be. Steve gives Cory a try-out to impress visiting rugby coach Martin Rose but the boy is nervous, following an unexpected encounter, and it is Sadiq's son Riz who pays the price.
6Episode #2.6
Grieving for Samir, whose killer has fled the country, Emma is persuaded by Sadiq to keep his memory alive - a tree is planted in his name and the school play is a huge success. Released from hospital after Cody's attack on him Riz claims he had sex with under-age Hayley, which she verifies. Sides are drawn up with Missy rejecting Aaron, who has declared his love for her but her mother Simone advises her to follow her heart and reconciliation follows. Jordan, meanwhile, disappears.
7Episode #2.7
New deputy head Javid Shah arrives, annoying Mandy with his proposal to set up a gay help group. She is further annoyed when Sadiq asks her to suspend Steve, following the incident between Riz and Cory - leading to the couple splitting up again. Another newcomer is feisty Lesbian Sam Murgatroyd and Nas falls for her. However Sam's family's racist attitude means the girls have no future together. Simone throws an engagement party for Missy and Aaron but relapses back onto the drugs and Missy throws her out.
8Episode #2.8
Mandy is not pleased when her put-upon mother asks her to look after her dementia-stricken father, who proves to be violent, especially when she makes a discovery which leads to a decision. Another complication is the fact that is pregnant, though Steve offers support and she is able to thwart Javid Shah's attempt to defy her. Nas's sister Razia disastrously bleaches her face to make herself more white for boyfriend Riz so Hayley dyes her skin to show solidarity but it almost leads to social services intervention with the Booth family. Jordan is finally located and in need of help.
9Episode #2.9
Volunteering at a food bank Aliya spots Cory being served and posts a photo of him online but it backfires on her though Cory is also shamed when he is caught stealing food. Sadiq has his own problems when his business fails and the school's sponsorship is in jeopardy. Nas is injured when her sister Razia attacks Sam, leading her to tell her family that Sam is her girlfriend. Aliya makes her peace with Cory after the Nawazes' home is repossessed, forcing them to stay with relatives, and Cory's father has attempted suicide. Javid tries to exploit Sadiq's misfortune to undermine Mandy but she is able to foil him.
10Episode #2.10
Naveed's mother Sadia, already unhappy with his attempts to be a stand-up comedian, is shocked to discover that he is also gay. Mortified by her disapproval he turns to Cory, whose reaction allows him to come out publicly and reconcile with his parents. Emma accompanies Rashid to a university reunion but feels left out when he meets an old flame Meesha and gets back with Will, leaving a clear field for Kaneez, who, having passed her driving test, is happy to date Rashid again. However Emma is troubled to find that her schoolgirl daughter Chloe has a thirty year old boyfriend called Tony.
11Episode #2.11
Missy tells Nas that she is pregnant but Nas is shocked to learn that the pregnancy was deliberate as Missy wants to drop out of school and marry Aaron. However after seeing her mother she changes her plan, to Aaron's dismay. After Emma publicly denounces Tony as a pervert Chloe's father Nik arrives to sort things out and has a proposition for Emma which leads to a fight with Will whilst Chloe has a rude awakening, leading to family reconciliation. Rashid finds a way to persuade the stricter parents to let their children attend the school prom but Mandy's cash problems refuse to go away.
12Episode #2.12
Steve is reinstated but Mandy's delight is short-lived when she finds that a faceless trust wants to take over running Ackley Bridge. Learning that Javid Shah has engineered it and following his unintentionally public denunciation of the school she sacks him but the staff still fear for their future. With the exams over the prom goes ahead but a disillusioned Jordan, after an unsuccessful attempt to re-connect with his long estranged mother, does not join in the merriment and needs help from Mandy and Steve to move on. Mandy herself learns whether her role as head teacher is safe after Sadiq comes to a decision.
