Ware, England
Although most of The Teacher season 3 was filmed in northern Spain, the production used a UK location for the school’s exterior. Cheetham Hall itself isn’t a real school; instead, Fanhams Hall, a luxury hotel and wedding venue near Stansted Airport in Hertfordshire, stood in for the iconic exterior shots.
Chorleywood, England
As for Helen’s home, those scenes were filmed about a forty-five-minute drive from Fanhams Hall, in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire.
This picturesque village sits on the edge of the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and forms part of the London commuter belt. The property used — Apple Tree Farmhouse on Dog Kennel Lane — boasts six bedrooms, offering the perfect backdrop for the teacher’s on-screen life.
Shrewsbury Prison, England
Not to give too much away, but the prison featured in the final episode is actually a historic jail that closed in 2013 and now operates as a tourist attraction. Shrewsbury Prison, completed in 1793, is a popular filming location for TV and film productions, including Silent Witness.
Sheffield, England
Given that the show is set in Sheffield, it’s no surprise that production included plenty of skyline shots of the city, including views over Park Square Bridge. Panoramic scenes of central Sheffield were also captured from Meersbrook Park, highlighting landmarks such as Sheffield Town Hall, St Paul’s Church, and Sheffield Midland Station. However, the cast did not film any scenes on location in the city itself.
Why was The Teacher filmed in Spain?
It may seem like an unusual choice to film a quintessentially British boarding school in northern Spain, but it’s actually a common practice for UK-based TV shows. Basically, it comes down to a financial decision.
Spain markets itself as the “California of Europe,” offering strong financial incentives to attract film and TV projects. The country provides a 30% tax rebate on the first €1 million of local spend, with even higher incentives available in certain regions.
Channel 5
The Basque Country is particularly generous, offering rebates of up to 60% for productions that meet specific spending thresholds, with an additional 10% available for projects filmed in the Basque language. And you can bet the cast aren’t complaining about the sunny break!
Beyond the financial perks, northern Spain is prized for its distinctive visual style. Its rugged landscapes and atmospheric architecture offer a striking contrast to the sunny stereotype of the country, giving productions a versatile backdrop that works for a wide range of genres.
Watch The Teacher on Channel 5.