The advent of September can only mean one thing – back to school.
Even if you’re a grown adult with a real job, the start of the autumnal season is still a reminder to buy a fresh pencil case and notebook.
And it seems Channel 4 is keen to lean into our old nostalgia for our school days, with the legendary Educating Yorkshire series returning for a second season (or term) after more than a decade.
Having originally aired in 2013, the series documented a year at Thornhill Community Academy in Dewsbury, with the school’s witty, silly and spirited students instantly being taken into our hearts.
One student that sticks in a lot of people’s minds is Musharaf Asghar, who struggled with a prominent stammer. In a scene which has since gone viral numerous times, we see dedicated teacher Mr Matthew Burton use a technique he saw in The King’s Speech to help the Year 11 student overcome his speech impediment.
Now, 12 years on, Mr Burton is headteacher of Thornhill Community Academy – but what has Musharaf done since leaving school? Cosmopolitan UK sees what he’s accomplished since.
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What happened to Musharaf from Educating Yorkshire?
Having managed to overcome his stammer, viewers were thrilled to see Musharaf, or ‘Mushy’, pass his oral English exam, as well as even deliver a speech in front of the whole school.
It was something Musharaf never thought he’d be capable of – he developed his stammer when he was just five years old, as a response to a severe asthma attack.
Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine programme earlier this month (alongside Mr Burton himself), Musharaf explained: “It just changed everything for me, I never thought I'd be fluent. It just showed that teachers can change lives and I'm really fortunate that it was captured on TV.”
With Educating Yorkshire having been such a success, Musharaf started touring schools to give motivational speeches to other children about “overcoming their challenges”.
According to his LinkedIn profile, he still works as a keynote speaker. In 2021, he graduated from The University of Huddersfield with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.
He is also considering following in Mr Burton’s footsteps and considering pursuing a teaching degree in the future.
“Maybe one day I'll be a colleague of Matthew's but who knows?” he said on Lorraine.
Where is Musharaf from Educating Yorkshire now?
Elsewhere, Musharaf regularly posts on his Instagram page, where he has acquired nearly 18,000 followers.
Speaking about his appearance on Lorraine, Musharaf wrote: “Loved being on Lorraine the other day and catching up with the amazing Mr Burton, still wild to think I’ve gone from being his student to now calling him a friend!
“I also shared a bit about my life since the series, and how I’m now a motivational speaker, talking about the importance of teachers and the incredible impact they have on a child’s life.”
Meanwhile, on his 28th birthday earlier this year, Musharaf reflected on the 12 years that have passed since he featured on Educating Yorkshire.
“Over the years, teachers have helped me to push forward in all things I doubted myself I could achieve,” he wrote. “Teachers gave me more than an education - they gave me a future. I will forever be grateful for believing in me.”
Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper’s Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.
