A new academy school in a Yorkshire mill town merges the lives and cultures of the largely divided white and Asian community
It's the first day at the brand new academy school, and best friends Missy and Nas are now attending the same school for the very first time
Jordan finds himself in charge of a baby that he has to sneak into school. It's harder to conceal than he anticipated, and he blackmails PE teacher Steve into helping him out. Unable to return it to its mother a stumped Steve ends up taking Jordan and baby back to his house which causes further issues to his already strained marriage to Mandy, leading her to fall into the ready arms of her boss, Sadiq.
Missy convinces Nas to make a play for her teacher Lila, but Nas is served a curveball when her dad announces that he has other plans for her. Confused and emotional, Nas appeals to Lila for help but Lila draws a line under their friendship. Elsewhere a guilt-stricken Mandy ends things with Sadiq and throws herself back into her marriage. Emma discovers that the object of her affection, Samir, is engaged. Cory's attempts to help Riz with the opposite sex understandably backfire.
Missy suffers a traumatic discovery regarding Nana Booth and fearing that social services will take Haley into care, she keeps everything secret until forced to ask Emma for money. Nas is heartbroken when her relationship with Lila hits rocky ground, and Kaneez realises she has to alert Mandy about the Booth girls when she gets caught in a fight between Simone and Missy.
Kaneez is furious to discover that Nas is considering the arranged marriage. But the pressure of it all leads Nas to break down to her mum and confess that she is gay.
The final episode of the schools drama series. Mandy's professional life collides with her personal life when Alya outs her and Sadiq's affair at the school's first Open Day. As Mandy fights for her job, but chooses to put her pupils before her career, Steve comes to her rescue, but will it be enough to repair their relationship? Meanwhile, Candice reveals the true identity of Jamie's father, leading Jordan to spiral. Feeling neglected by Emma, Chloe gets caught up in Jordan's plans to leave Ackley Bridge, only for them to fall foul of the police.
Nas agrees to a sham engagement with Naveed, but emotions run high when she discovers a family secret
Jordan offers to help with baby Jamie's christening. Cory lashes out during Rugby practice, and Missy finds herself at the mercy of a loan shark.
Kaneez is still reeling from the revelation of Iqbal's secret family, and Missy is desperate for her loved ones to come to terms with her boyfriend.
Sami is riddled with guilt over his affair, so when he discovers that Jordan is working for Khadim, he seeks redemption by getting him off the streets and into boxing.
Desperate to find a girlfriend, Nas downloads a dating app and, after fending off a series of unsuitable women, falls for a beautiful young girl called Sameera - only for Missy to discover it is Kaneez catfishing Nas as a way of reconnecting with her daughter. Meanwhile, Steve is desperate for something good to finally happen to the Wilsons and he invites a rugby scout to watch Cory play. But tensions run high with the pressure getting to Cory, and Steve and Kevin Wilson come to blows at the match. Mandy persuades Steve to interview for the Deputy Head role, which helps them reconnect. Emma and the students are still reeling from the tragic events of last week.
Missy has never had a real relationship so when Aaron tells her he loves her, she freaks out. Her worst views of men are confirmed when a message stream circulates around school revealing Riz and Hayley's sexual relationship. Hayley is humiliated but what really riles Missy is how quickly her sister is willing to forgive. Mandy is embarrassed by having to call Sadiq and his wife in to discuss Riz's behaviour. And Emma, still reeling from Sami's death, leaves the school production in crisis to look for answers.
Nas finally meets a girl who knocks her socks off, but their families and backgrounds put them completely at odds, and Missy and Hayley are heartbroken when Simone relapses
Mandy's abusive dad turns up at the school suffering from dementia. She returns to the estate where she grew up to find that her mum can't cope with the situation.
While Alya lives a life of privilege, Cory's family has fallen apart and he has to visit a food bank. When Cory makes a snarky comment, Alya posts a picture of him but it backfires badly: he's humiliated, and suddenly she's a pariah. Nas gets caught in the crossfire of a fight between Sam and Razia, leaving her to choose between her secret girlfriend and her sister. And as Sadiq begs Mandy to keep him on as sponsor, Javid hatches a plan to take over as the head of Ackley Bridge.
Desperate to make it as a stand-up comic, Naveed's plans are derailed when his Mum discovers his arranged marriage to Nas was a cover, and that he's gay
With the GCSE exams looming Missy loses her bottle and quits school in favour of starting a family with Aaron. Emma recruits Will in her plan to sabotage Chloe's relationship.
Jordan fears he hasn't done enough revision to get into the college that he wants to go to, and Mandy is offered a lifeline that forces her to question her loyalty to Sadiq
Nas secures an interview for a place at Oxford University, while Mandy is overwhelmed when her new boss dumps a load of unmanageable kids from his other schools on her. New hot-headed Deputy Head Martin locks horns with Sam Murgatroyd's mum - fresh from prison - and bad girl Rukhsana runs rings around Sue, the disenchanted and distinctly un-PC new Director of Behaviour.
Kaneez and Simone anxiously wait for news on Nas and Missy. Sam recruits her cousins to seek revenge, and as the reaction rapidly escalates, a chasm opens between Ackley Bridge's white and Asian communities, with the school at the centre of the tensions.
Kaneez is stunned when Rashid proposes, but when wedding fever takes hold of the Paracha house it gets too much for her and she back-tracks - leaving Rashid confused and humiliated. Still keen to unite the two communities of Ackley Bridge, Mandy has written an article for a right-wing local newspaper, and later teams up with Kaneez to go into the community and convince Asian parents to support her school. Naveed has a party while his parents are away, but he isn't pleased when Chloe uses it as an opportunity to pull Cory.
Sam and Nas are caught shoplifting, which causes a rift between them, but Sam's mum Nadine is proud of her and pushes Sam to get more involved with the Murgatroyds' criminal activities. Martin puts his family in danger when he tries to intervene and save Sam. Meanwhile, Nas considers her future in the wake of recent events, and Sue's nose is put out of joint when Mandy favours Kaneez for a job in her department - and the Parachas and Booths are intent on her getting it.
Cory is kicked out after being caught with his dad's girlfriend. Hoping for sympathy, he is amazed when Naveed is appalled. The friends fall out, leading Nas to take Naveed on a night out with a difference. He meets a guy who proves to be the perfect distraction from Cory. It's Mandy's maternity cover, Sian who scoops up Cory, but he oversteps the mark when he kisses her. Later, when Mandy gives birth, she feels overwhelmed and underprepared for motherhood, but luckily she has help from Kaneez.
Rukhsana gets revenge on her controlling brother but is left to fend for herself when he walks out and the debt collectors come knocking.
Mandy's visit to school doesn't go well when she discovers a rumour going around that Cory is the father of her baby, and Nas is horrified when Chloe outs her at a school fundraiser
It's the end of an era at Ackley Bridge College as Nas struggles under the pressure of A-Level exams. Mandy and Martin force Sue to help Cory get his life back on track.
Kayla and Fizza forge a friendship with a new boy who enrols in their class, ruffling feathers throughout the school. Also joining Year 11 is Kaneez's nephew from Manchester. Martin experiences a baptism of fire as acting head teacher, and Kayla finds herself at the centre of a cruel prank that goes viral across the school.
An offended Johnny walks out after the gypsies are wrongly blamed for stealing from the school. Martin has problems at home but needs to make things right.
Fizza goes off the rails when her mother protests against sex education at the school, and when she accompanies her sister to Johnny's site, it all ends in tears.
Tahir's tall stories catch up with him when his plan to help Sam backfires disastrously. Kayla decides to keep a secret from Fizza, who has received bad news about her mother. Martin discovers that Johnny has a talent and makes him an offer.
Sparks fly between Fizza and Kayla when the truth comes out about the deleted text. Tahir grabs an opportunity at the talent show and Johnny and Fizza are brought closer together. Mandy has some news and Zainab reveals her true agenda to Kaneez.
Kayla's world implodes when she hears where Fizza was on Friday. The school trip to the Brontë Parsonage Museum is a disaster, and Johnny attempts to cheer up Kayla, but his world is about to fall apart too.
Johnny takes part in a boxing match to pay off a debt, while Martin tries to persuade him not to leave school. Kaneez learns more about Zainab and her past and Kayla needs to figure out where she stands.
Fizza reconnects with Gav and learns the shocking truth about her mum's attack. Martin enlists the help of `Jane" from the dating app to stop the sale of the school field. Kayla and Fizza get a shock when they hear about Johnny.
Tahir's world is turned upside down when Hayley reveals that she's pregnant. Fizza and Kayla confront Johnny over his lies, but the backlash results in a rift between the two girls. Meanwhile, Johnny is torn over whether or not to marry Rose.
A day before the wedding. Jules worries about Kayla, who's putting on a brave face. Fizza tries to make amends, while Johnny seems determined to do the right thing - whatever that is.
A new teacher joins the school, with outspoken views that capture the hearts of Fizza and Hassan. Marina's efforts to boost her standing on social media cause outrage among the parents and puts Martin in a very difficult position. Jules ends up heavily in debt, causing her to be evicted.
Kayla is sent into a spiral of anxiety as she contemplates having sex with Johnny, and receives some devastating news as a consequence of Jules' new job. Kaneez is given the task of heading up the Year 11 sex education classes, while Asma is unwillingly partnered with Hassan to revive the girls' rugby team.
Johnny spirals down a dangerous path to try to make Kayla stay in Ackley. Martin risks all to help get Johnny out of trouble. Marina's brother Kyle lands at school, causing chaos for Kaneez and persuading Marina to stay with him on the estate.
Pressure mounts for Fizza as she is made captain of the debate team in an upcoming competition against St Marks. Struggling to balance school with managing her father's deteriorating mental health, she finds herself unexpectedly bonding with debate partner Chloe. Meanwhile, Asma and Hassan have a tense exchange at Muslim speed dating.
Kaneez is unexpectedly caught up in a puppy heist while trying to manage tearaway Kyle and study for her GCSEs. Fizza feels unable to cope with Asif on her own, so she reaches out to Asma for help - and makes a shocking discovery.
Asma appeals to Fizza, desperate to keep her alcoholism from coming out. But her problems only intensify when her dad unexpectedly arrives at school, hoping to meet her new boyfriend. Hassan is delighted by Asma's lie and plays along, agreeing to dinner. Meanwhile, Marina intervenes in Fizza and Chloe's blossoming romance.
On the day of the girls' rugby tournament. Marina tries to bottle it after facing online abuse from the St Marks captain, but still manages to catch the eye of a boy in the crowd. At an afterparty, the pair get close, but things take a disturbing turn when he starts to push things too far. Meanwhile, Asma and Hassan go on their first date.
With the support of Fizza, Hayley and Chloe, Marina finds the strength and courage to understand her sexual assault. Everything comes to a head when St Marks arrive back at Ackley for the boys' rugby match.
On exam day, Fizza receives a distressing call from Asif that makes her drop everything. Meanwhile, Kyle steals an exam paper for Kaneez, and Asma finally realises that she needs to get professional help.
On the the day of the leavers ball, Johnny decides to quit his audition after having a crisis of confidence - though Rashid is determined to change his mind. Fizza struggles to cope after her father is hospitalised, while Martin's head is on the block at the school governors' meeting, but Marina has a plan to help.
