Sex Education fans, it's almost time to return to school. The fourth season of Netflix's comedy-drama is set to land on the streaming service this year.

The hit show has made stars of its cast, including Emma Mackey and Doctor Who's Ncuti Gatwa, and won praise for tackling issues around sexuality and gender.

Here's everything we know about the new season, including the plot and cast.

When will Sex Education season 4 be released?

Sex Education season 4 will arrive on Netflix later this year. A release date has yet to be officially confirmed.

The season was green-lit in September 2021, just days after season 3 arrived, so fans have been waiting a long time for new episodes.

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What happened in Sex Education season 3?

The season 3 finale ended on several cliffhangers. The most dramatic was Moordale Secondary School announcing it would close down and be sold to property developers.

Meanwhile, Maeve (Emma Mackey) finally got together with Otis (Asa Butterfield) but decided to study abroad in America, throwing their relationship into doubt.

Otis' mother Jean (Gillian Anderson) gave birth to a baby girl, Joy. The results of a paternity test shocked her, suggesting her partner Jakob (Mikael Persbrandt) isn't the father.

Three couples broke up: Eric (Ncuti Gatwa) and Adam (Connor Swindells), Aimee (Aimee Lou Wood) and Steve (Chris Jenks), and Jackson (Kedar Williams-Stirling) and Cal (Dua Saleh). Another couple, Lily (Tanya Reynolds) and Ola (Patricia Allison), made amends after an argument.

Adam's mother Maureen (Samantha Spiro) chose not to reconcile with her estranged husband, and former Moordale headmaster, Michael (Alistair Petrie).

What will happen in season 4?

After the closure of Moordale, season 4 sees the characters move to the "high-tech and progressive" Cavendish Sixth Form College, where they struggle to fit in.

Otis tries to set up a new sex therapy clinic but faces competition from a rival student. Back home, he is adjusting to no longer being an only child. He also tries to juggle his long-distance relationship with Maeve, who is being tutored by cult author Thomas Molloy (Dan Levy) at a top US university.

Teasing the new episodes, Asa Butterfield told RadioTimes.com: "We're in the new school, new locations, and things have changed up a bit. And we've got some new characters. The show's definitely sort of evolved somewhat. But it's still got the core team involved and it's been fun – I mean we all know each other so well at this point, so it's a great time and it's a laugh."

Co-star Aimee Lou Wood told Digital Spy: "It really does feel different. We've got different directors, different writers, so it's very, very, very new which can also be exciting."

Who's in the season 4 cast?

The following cast members are returning to Sex Education for season 4:

• Asa Butterfield (Otis)

• Gillian Anderson (Jean)

• Emma Mackey (Maeve)

• Ncuti Gatwa (Eric)

• Aimee Lou Wood (Aimee)

• Connor Swindells (Adam)

• Mimi Keene (Ruby)

• Alistair Petrie (Michael)

• Samantha Spiro (Maureen)

• Kedar Williams-Stirling (Jackson)

• Dua Saleh (Cal)

• Chinenye Ezeudu (Viv)

• George Robinson (Isaac)

They will be joined by these new additions to the cast:

• Dan Levy (Mr Molloy)

• Jodie Turner-Smith

• Thaddea Graham

• Marie Reuther

• Alexandra James

• Anthony Lexa

• Felix Mufti

• Imani Yahshua

Several cast members have exited the show, including Simone Ashley (Olivia), Patricia Allison (Ola), Tanya Reynolds (Lily) and Rakhee Thakrar (Ms Sands). Gatwa and Mackey have already confirmed they won't be back if the show is renewed for a fifth season.

Watch: Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa announced as the next Doctor