Based on a true story, reported by Vanity Fair in February 2005.
The school scenes were filmed at the Burnt Mill School, Harlow in Essex, UK. The characters also wear the correct uniform for the school the scenes were filmed at.
Producer Bryan Singer was also supposed to direct, but he had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with the post-production of Jack the Giant Slayer (2013).
The film takes place in 2003.
The final work of Jonathan Barlow who died in 2014.