THE remarkable efforts of a Worcester headteacher who helped transform one of the most notorious schools in the country were celebrated in a TV drama last night.

In 2000, Sean Devlin - now at Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College, in Timberdine Avenue - was drafted in as deputy head of the failing St George's School, in London.

The inner city school, where gang culture was rife, faced closure after the murder of previous headteacher, Philip Lawrence, outside the gates and failing Ofsted reports.

The ITV1 drama told the true-life story of how headmistress Lady Marie Stubbs - played by Julie Walters - and Mr Devlin turned the school around in just 18 months.

Reece Dinsdale, who has starred in ID, Thief Takers and Hamlet, played Mr Devlin in the two-hour programme Ahead of the Class.

"It was an accurate portrayal of the essence of the school, which was pleasing," said the Worcester head.

"Pupils had lost confidence in teachers and teachers had lost their way so it was about bridge building, re-imposing standards and expectations.

"It took a lot of hard work and long hours. It was certainly a challenge and I look back on it with pride and satisfaction.

"At the end, pupils went on to sixth form, apprenticeships and jobs and, if that school had closed, where would they have gone?

"Last night's show brought back some good memories, some laughs and a reminder about what we achieved."

The programme was adapted from Lady Marie's book of the same name, which tells how she was coaxed out of retirement and, with her hand-picked team, rescued the school with a mix of old-fashioned discipline and innovative ideas.

The documentary also starred comedian and actor Tony Slattery, from Whose Line Is It Anyway?, who played a disillusioned teacher unconvinced by Lady Marie and Mr Devlin's methods.