Growing Up Gifted: everything you need to know as the inspiring documentary series returns

How can children from disadvantaged backgrounds realise their full potential, and can social mobility ever be more than an empty political buzzword? These are just some of the questions posed by BBC Two’s Growing Up Gifted.

Picking up where 2018’s Generation Gifted left off, the documentary follows six bright youngsters from low-income backgrounds around the UK, all of whom have been earmarked by their schools as gifted and talented.

The two-part show charts the challenges they face as they try to achieve their personal goals, despite their family circumstances.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the first instalment:

​What is Growing Up Gifted all about?

Last year, Generation Gifted introduced us to six 13-year-olds from around the UK, all of whom are academically gifted and from low-income families.

This time around, the students are turning 14 and 15, and are stepping up their preparations ahead of their GCSE exams.

The first episode of this series focuses on the male participants. There’s Liam from Newcastle, who dreams of attending Cambridge and studying medicine; Jamarley from north-west London, who sees music as an escape route and Kian from Hartlepool, who is running for head boy at his school.

Next week’s episode will follow the girls, Jada, Anne-Marie and Shakira, as they juggle with the pressures of exam season.

What time is Growing Up Gifted on TV?

Part one of the documentary airs at 9pm on February 18 on BBC Two, with the second episode set to follow at the same time on February 25.

​Will there be another instalment in the Gifted series?

​To give viewers a more unique insight into social mobility in the UK, the documentary series has been staggered over a three year period, meaning that a final season, comprising of a further two episodes, is planned for 2020.

By then, it'll be time for the participants to turn 16 and sit their GCSEs.