Matthew Burton, the headteacher of Thornhill Community Academy and a breakout star of the Channel 4 show "Educating Yorkshire," has revealed that a school careers program once suggested he was destined to be a grave digger. Burton, who gained national recognition in 2013 and returned to screens last year for the show's reboot, shared this anecdote as filming commences for the second series of the revived program.
Burton, 43, explained that as a teenager, he explored various career aspirations, including becoming a train driver and a footballer. However, a careers assessment resulted in the unexpected outcome of grave digger. "I remember doing a careers program when I was in school, but I answered loads of questions and it gave you your ideal job, and mine came back as a grave digger," he told the Daily Mail. He humorously added that his dream of playing for Huddersfield Town remains, though teaching is his current reality.
The return of "Educating Yorkshire" has been well-received, prompting Channel 4 to commission another series. As filming gets underway for the new term, Burton and his staff are particularly mindful of the potential for online trolling directed at students, a concern amplified by the prevalence of social media.
"All of us are aligned behind the fact that the most important thing is looking after our students, looking after our staff, and of course we'd be daft to not think that there's a possibility of that [trolling]," Burton stated. He emphasized the extensive consent process undertaken by the production company and the school, involving multiple viewings and legal considerations from the school, trust, and families before any episode airs. "When the final version goes out, it's no surprise to me what's going out because It's like the 12th time I've watched it or something," he added.
In addition to his role as headteacher, Burton has partnered with EE to assist parents in navigating back-to-school technology challenges. The mobile and broadband provider is offering in-store appointments to help families establish guidelines for online safety, a topic of concern for many parents. Research from the tech company indicates that nearly a third of parents (31 percent) worry about their children encountering negative or harmful online content.
Burton praised the support provided during filming, noting its "second to none" quality in terms of care and psychological support, and highlighted the "heartwarming" positive reactions received by students and staff. He also recalled the story of Musharaf Asghar, the show's most famous student, who overcame a stammer in 2013. Asghar returned to the school last series, and with Burton's assistance, delivered a speech in his Year 11 assembly. Asghar, now 29, spoke to current students about the impact of having a supportive teacher, stating, "I guess, for me, it was having a friend who was in my corner, having a person that really pushed me and believed in me."