The studio where the new Harry Potter television reboot will be filmed has just been granted an expanded lease on life. They are going to build a real, temporary school for their young performers. This is an important step toward ensuring child performers can fulfill their schooling needs. It gives them the flexibility to prioritize their education while juggling their advanced filming schedule.
Dominic McLaughlin has been cast to play the iconic role of Harry Potter in this adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s beloved series. As the production started shooting at Leavesden’s historic studio, the clock was ticking on their desire for a bespoke educational space. The mod school can hold around 600 pupils at peak, but is often not even half full. It only typically runs about 150 students strong.
The school will operate on weekdays from 05:30 to 20:30, providing a structured environment for young actors to focus on their academic responsibilities. Some aspects of the construction appear to have already started.
Like it or not, the decisions we make about a school’s infrastructure today will remain in place for at least five years and possibly as many as ten years. This timeline complements the new documentary series, which will be filmed at the studio throughout that week.
“significant new TV series which will base itself at the studio for the next 8–10 years” – school planning documents or Three Rivers District Council
The planning documents might not mention Harry Potter by name, but the link is obvious. The series’ legacy and its production home tells you the obvious answer. The establishment of this temporary school underscores the commitment to ensuring that child actors can manage their educational needs alongside their acting responsibilities.
