About this season
Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby is a satirical New Zealand television series, created and written by Danny Mulheron, Dave Armstrong and Tom Scott. It stars David McPhail as the titular Mr Gormsby, whose politically incorrect attitudes and "old school" teaching style clash and contrast with the environment at the fictional Tepapawai High School. The show pokes fun at the New Zealand education system but also at modern New Zealand social attitudes more generally. Two seasons have so far been made; the first was broadcast in 2005 on TV ONE in New Zealand and the ABC TV in Australia. The second series was shown in New Zealand in 2006 and in Australia, on ABC2, April 2008. DVDs of the series are sold in Australia through the ABC Shop. The program was filmed at two disused schools in the suburbs of Lower Hutt: the first season at Wainuiomata College and the second at Petone College.
Episodes (7)
1. Period One: Heads Will Roll
Aired 27 March 2006 • 30 min
Dasent is released from the mental hospital and returns to his roll as principal. Steve leaves, Gormsby is rehired as the new Guidance Counsellor. Steve returns and Gormsby goes back to teaching 5F
2. Period Two: Crime And Punishment
Aired 3 April 2006 • 30 min
The Police are investigating Steve's car being lit on fire. Steve is arrested and Hohepa confesses. Hohepa returns to 5F as punishment.
3. Period Three: The Slave Trade
Aired 10 April 2006 • 30 min
Hohepa is offered a contract to play rugby at a private school, which leads Dasent to see lucrative possibilities for Tepapawai by selling his Polynesian pupils to the highest bidder.
4. Period Four: Dancing With The Staff
Aired 17 April 2006 • 30 min
Gormsby uses the school dance as an opportunity to teach his boy some etiquette, Hakanui's gambling gets worse, and Hohepa needs a car to impress his girlfriend.
5. Period Five: Camp Tepapawai
Aired 24 April 2006 • 30 min
The school camp funds vanish in suspicious circumstances, but Gormsby isn't about to let the boys miss out.
6. Period Six: An Inspector Calls
Aired 1 May 2006 • 30 min
The school is in danger of being closed following a report from Marion Patterson. The staff all band together to actually try to appear to be doing a decent job of teaching. Can they save Tepapawai?
7. Period Seven: For Whom The Bell Tolls
Aired 8 May 2006 • 30 min
Marion breaks off her engagement with Roger and Tepapawai's future is not looking good. Steve is up to his old tricks and only thinking of himself. But the boys soon sort things.