The Education of Jane Cumming

Two women building a life and a school together in 1810 Edinburgh find their independence threatened following the arrival of a new pupil and a scandalous accusation.Jane Pirie and Marianne Woods have set up a boarding school for girls on the edge of Edinburgh, hoping to build a life of their own.

But the arrival of a new pupil from India - the illegitimate granddaughter of an influential aristocrat - stirs tensions around class, race and education and exposes fault lines within the school.

When the two teachers are accused of having an affair, the allegation spreads quickly, endangering both their livelihood and their future.Based on the true story behind The Children’s Hour, Sophie Heldman’s keenly observed historical drama brings a fascinating chapter of Scottish history to life.

Clare Dunne and Flora Nicholson are excellent as Jane and Marianne, with Fiona Shaw adding star power to the supporting cast.

Blending romance, intrigue and courtroom drama, The Education of Jane Cumming feels both firmly rooted in its period and strikingly relevant to the present.