BBC to air educational content for UK’s locked-down children

Horrible Histories

UK pubcaster the BBC has vowed to deliver “the biggest education offer in its history” by providing content across its BBC Two and CBBC channels, and iPlayer VOD service, for children impacted by the country’s latest national lockdown.

With the majority of the nation’s youngsters stuck at home and UK schools moving to remote learning, the BBC will allow children continued access to curriculum-based learning even if they are unable to get online.

Beginning on 11 January, each weekday will see CBBC broadcast a three-hour block of primary school programming, including BBC Live Lessons and BBC Bitesize Daily, as well as other educational shows such as Our School, Celebrity Supply Teacher and Horrible Histories.

BBC Two will meanwhile focus on content for secondary students with shows to support the GCSE curriculum, with a least two hours of programming each weekday.

Content will be built around Bitesize Daily secondary shows, complemented by classic drama adaptations alongside science, history and factual titles from the BBC’s factual programming units.

Bitesize Daily primary and secondary programming will also be available on demand on BBC iPlayer.

“Ensuring children across the UK have the opportunity to continue to follow the appropriate core parts of their nation’s school curriculum has been a key priority for the BBC throughout this past year,” said BBC director general Tim Davie.

“Education is absolutely vital – the BBC is here to play its part and I’m delighted that we have been able to bring this to audiences so swiftly.”

Earlier this week, UK culture secretary Oliver Dowden confirmed that TV and film production in the UK will continue despite the latest nationwide lockdown.