A Rebel Education: Behind the scenes on Virgin Media's Cork-based school-days documentary
Paul Burke, Principal Carrigaline Community School at Nigel's student coffee dock, opened in memory of the late Nigel Herlihy, school caretaker. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Over the course of an academic year, Virgin Media cameras ‘prowled’ the halls, classrooms, and corridors of Carrigaline Community School in Cork, capturing the chaos, humour, and humanity of Irish secondary education.
The school body is extraordinarily diverse, with 45 nationalities represented. Laughter in many accents bounces off the walls, mingling with the Cork lilt.
Debates about hurling matches flare up beside conversations about life in other countries. The school is a microcosm of modern Ireland, reflecting a nation whose identity is evolving through its diversity. The students are learning what it means to live in a multicultural society.
One student says: “I like the diversity in our school. You see people from other cultures — Spanish, African, Asian — but nobody cares. We don’t look at each other and think, ‘You’re from a different country’; it’s almost like we’re unified.”
At the heart of the series is the principal, Paul Burke, whose warm, unconventional leadership places student wellbeing at the centre of school life. Known for his approachable style and commitment to rethinking what education can be, Burke has done something unprecedented: Welcomed cameras into a school.
Burke says: “It’s been in the pipeline for about three and a half years. When I was approached about it, I found it interesting. People say everyone knows what it’s like going to school; they don’t. Schools have changed dramatically over the last 10 years.
“I also saw it as an opportunity to dispel the bad press teenagers get. We’ve a wonderful group of kids and it’s a chance for audiences to see all is not bad in the world.”
Alongside Burke is TikTok teaching sensation Tadgh O’Donovan, whose playful, relatable approach to lessons has earned him thousands of online followers.
O’Donovan exemplifies a new generation of teachers, meeting young people where they are — both in the classroom and online.
Tadhg tells how, “The world students are growing up in is so different to the one we grew up in. I’m just trying to understand a portion of that world to try keep them interested in my lessons.”
Tadhg motivates his students with a clever twist on the old rewards system.
Each time they complete one of his revision booklets, they earn a star and he adds an extra kilometre to his weekend run. He may be mistaking enthusiasm for revision with enthusiasm for revenge.
Tadhg has established a bond built on effort, trust, and shared moments of determination (and occasional exhaustion) with his students. Check out his TikTok channel to see him confess, “the feeling that I’m going to pass out is starting to lift” as he runs. The students respect him, rise to the challenge, and clearly enjoy his humour.
The facilities, such as a sensory room, demonstrate the school’s commitment to holistic learning. Here, education is about much more than exams; it is about building confidence, nurturing creativity, and fostering a sense of community.
Audiences will see moments both universal and uniquely Carrigaline. A gym that hums with music and movement, and, in classrooms, the blending of languages and accents, which creates a vibrant mosaic of experience.
What sets A Rebel Education apart is its focus on authenticity. There is no scripted drama here. It captures unvarnished realities: Successes, failures, disagreements, and breakthroughs. All of it is raw and relatable.
Principal Burke’s philosophy is clear. His goal is primarily to ensure that school is a safe space for every student. He points out, “Kids arriving late, some see it as a big problem. My take on that is they are here: Great! We must be mindful that a kid arriving late may have went through hell that morning.”
His commitment to students goes far beyond the standard metrics. Burke’s focus is their well-being, to assure students that there is a place for everyone in the world.
“People talk about law, accounting, and medicine. All very important, but do you like going to gigs? Getting your hair and nails done? Don’t tell me you’re 49th in the national league table, I’ll tell you to get stuffed.”
O’Donovan’s teaching methods complement this approach, proving that education can be engaging, interactive, and digital-friendly without losing substance. Together, they create a school culture that is vibrant, challenging, and nurturing. Quite a feat.
For viewers, A Rebel Education offers more than a glimpse into classrooms; it provides insight in to the changing landscape of Irish education.
The series highlights how schools like Carrigaline are adapting to cultural diversity, evolving teaching approaches, and the increasing influence of technology in students’ lives. By the end of the series, audiences will have witnessed the triumphs and challenges of learning and all of it viewed through a lens that is simultaneously entertaining, informative, and inspiring.
Whether it is a student’s creativity being sparked in a science experiment, the camaraderie of group projects, or the tense moment of receiving exam results, the series captures what it means to grow, learn, and thrive in today’s Ireland. In Carrigaline, education is not simply a path to exams. It is a journey of discovery, navigating through the challenges of teenage life, resilience, and connection.
What struck me most when speaking to this school’s community — albeit virtually — was the warmth and friendship that seems to flow through it.
In a Zoom call, the principal reflects on how today’s students compare with those of a decade ago. His answer wasn’t about exam results. It was something far more human: “Kindness. The kids now just have a kindness about them.”
That kindness is evident in the teachers, too.
Tadhg spoke to me on WhatsApp while out running 21km the rain, after having been at a wedding the day before. He is accountable and respectful and that clearly rubs off on his pupils.
Students feel it, too. Adele, whom I corresponded with by email, speaks glowingly of her teachers, praising the care, dedication, and support she experiences daily.
These conversations paint a vivid picture: A school where kindness, creativity, and genuine connection matter as much as academic success. In an age when education can sometimes feel impersonal, this school is a reminder of what schools can and should be.
The show promises to be an essential watch for parents, students, and anyone curious about the modern classroom.
It is a rare opportunity to witness the transformative potential of education. It’s framed by the energy of one of Cork’s most remarkable schools, guided by leaders who are reshaping what it means to teach and students who are learning in a new way.
- Virgin Media’s A Rebel Education will premiere on Sunday, October 12, at 8pm.
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