‘Special Measures’ Play for Today airs Thursday, December 11th, 2025 on 5 at 9:00pm
Amy Garrison strives to be the best teacher she can be at Manor Lane School, aiming to deliver meaningful lessons and connect with her students. However, as an Ofsted inspection looms, things quickly turn chaotic when Head of English Drew Westhead quits on the morning of the inspection, leaving Amy, already reeling from the result of a pregnancy test, to juggle irate parents, guide a trainee teacher through his first lesson, and failing to provide much needed attention to Callum Hughes, a Year 10 pupil in great distress.
As pressure mounts, Amy’s desire to deliver good lessons on the most important day of the year clashes with the reality of the failing school. Throughout a tumultuous school day filled with disrupted lessons, fiery confrontations, a new job offer, a difficult heart to heart with husband Joe and an Ofsted inspection, Amy is left to reckon with the question of how – or if – things will ever get better.
It’s only when she’s pushed to her breaking point that Amy is able to do what she does best, connect and guide her students as she manages to finally get to the heart of Callum’s problems. At the end of this challenging day both Callum and Amy stand on the threshold of the school and their respective futures.
Cast
- Callum as Austin Haynes
- Jessica Plummer as Amy
- Joe as Shaun Fagan
- Lewis as Paddy Rowan
- Pete as Charlie De’Ath
Click to catch up on other episodes of Play for Today from this series. Want more drama? Why not check out 5 top shows now streaming.