Will Sex Education season 4 be the last season of the Netflix series?

It feels like forever since we saw a new season of Sex Education. The third season was released on Netflix in September 2021, and we’ve been patiently waiting on any new updates on the upcoming fourth season. Fortunately, it looks like production on Sex Education season 4 has started.

Fans were over the moon when Netflix announced that Sex Education would be coming back for a fourth season just a little over a week after the third season dropped. But it was pretty much radio silence after the renewal announcement.

When news finally started coming out about Sex Education season 4, everyone wondered if it was regarding the production schedule or a release date. Unfortunately, it was neither. Instead, reports about cast members departing the teen series started coming out left and right.

Typically, it’s not a good sign when cast members start leaving a show. Sometimes this means that a show could be coming to an end soon. Of course, this caused fans of the hit Netflix original to worry about the show’s fate. So, could the upcoming fourth season be the show’s final season? Here’s what we know below!

Will Sex Education season 4 be the last season?

It’s unclear at the moment. However, Netflix has not announced that Sex Education season 4 would be the final season, so that’s good news. But with how everything’s looking so far, it’s not looking too good. Several cast members have left the series for various reasons. Also, with so many of the Sex Education cast members being cast in new projects, it makes the chances of a Sex Education season 5 seem low.

Simone Ashley, who played Olivia Hanan, was the first to depart the series back in April. Her reasoning being she wanted to focus more on her role in Bridgerton. Patricia Allison, who portrayed Ola Nyman, announced on the U.K. radio show Breakfast with Yinka and Shayna Marie that she wouldn’t be returning for Sex Education season 4 because she had other opportunities she would like to pursue. Then, Patricia’s on-screen partner Tanya Reynolds revealed that she would also not be returning for the fourth season back in July.

The most recent departure was Rakhee Thakrar, who played the role of Emily Sands, a teacher at Moordale Secondary School. Rakhee couldn’t disclose why she wouldn’t be returning but is grateful to have been a part of the show.

There were also cast members who gave their opinions on Sex Education‘s future such as Aimee Lou Wood and Emma Mackey. Aimee spoke with RadioTimes back in November 2021 and said, “It’s a bittersweet thing. Even if it’s not this series [season 4], it probably is closer now to ending than it is to the start, which is sad but also probably in many ways, will be very positive. I always think leave them wanting more as well.”

In September 2021, Emma Mackey did an interview with Hunger Magazine and said, “Sex Education is so momentous as a concept, as a show, and the cast are phenomenal. I genuinely care about them all a lot and I made lifelong friends. But the bittersweet nature of it is that I also can’t be 17 my whole life.”

Although Netflix typically announces a show’s final season when they renew it, there have been times when the streamer hasn’t. For example, Locke and Key was renewed for a third season in December 2020. But then in April 2022, Netflix announced that the third season would be the final season. Fingers crossed, this doesn’t happen with Sex Education. We would like at least one more season to wrap everything up and say goodbye to one of the best teen series on Netflix.

We’ll keep you posted on Sex Education‘s future, so stay tuned to Netflix Life!