BBC continues educational programming with Bitesize Learning Zone
David Farnor | On 15, Mar 2021
With schools welcoming pupils back to lessons, the BBC has committed to continuing its educational programming this year, with new episodes of Bitesize Daily on the way.
Sitting on the CBBC channel for three hours each school day, a new Bitesize Learning Zone will deliver new episodes of Bitesize Daily, the popular curriculum-based TV programme for Primary school children from June until the end of the school year. These shows will again be split into age groups for 5-7 years old, 7-9 years old and 9-11 years old and will be designed for teachers to use as broadcast in the classrooms, or for use at home on BBC iPlayer for parents who want to help children catch up.
The move follows a push from the Beeb to support home-schooling during the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, with dedicated slots on BBC Two and CBBC for its educational programming. So far this year, they have replayed previous episodes originally recorded and broadcast last summer, while also making them available on BBC iPlayer.
Launching in April, the Bitesize Learning Zone will initially do the same, drawing on the archive of content from BBC Education, CBBC and the BBC Natural History Unit. This archive content includes Teacher Talks films, which are short videos that see teachers explaining core concepts around maths and English, live lessons and edutainment shows from CBBC such as Top Class, Horrible Histories, Art Ninja and Operation Ouch.
Over the first six weeks (commencing 19th April), the Bitesize Learning Zone will have a weekly theme that teachers can use alongside their lessons. The themes include animals, science, wellbeing and creativity.
From 7th June, however, Bitesize Learning Zone will welcome new episodes of Bitesize Daily Primary focusing on maths and English, offering primary school children detailed catch-up lessons in these subjects. The episodes will again include lessons from teachers and will also see a dedicated well-being day, designed to encourage good mental and physical health.
Alongside the TV offering there will continue to be support online. Bitesize will continue to produce This Term’s Topics for years 1 to 9 along with structured Primary lessons in Maths and English that match the topics being taught in schools.
Episodes of Bitesize Daily Secondary will continue to be available on BBC iPlayer and, for years 10 and 11, the direct to learner offer will continue on Bitesize online.
Struggling with home-schooling during the coronavirus pandemic? See our educational streaming guide.
BBC steps up education programming for 2021 lockdown
5th January 2021
The BBC is once again launching a new wave of education programming to cater for kids during the third national coronavirus lockdown,
Reacting quickly to the news of UK schools moving to remote learning, the new offer from the BBC will ensure all children can access curriculum-based learning, even if they don’t have access to the internet.
Starting on Monday 11th January, each weekday on CBBC will feature a three-hour block of primary school programming from 9am, including BBC Live Lessons and BBC Bitesize Daily, as well as other educational programming such as Our School and Celebrity Supply Teacher and titles such as Horrible Histories, Art Ninja and Operation Ouch.
BBC Two will cater for secondary students with programming to support the GCSE curriculum, with a least two hours of content each weekday. Content will be built around Bitesize Daily secondary shows, complemented by Shakespeare and classic drama adaptations alongside science, history and factual titles.
Bitesize Daily primary and secondary will also air every day on BBC Red Button as well as episodes being available on-demand on BBC iPlayer.
Tim Davie, BBC Director General, said: “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. 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.”
This TV offer sits alongside a wealth of online content. For primary, BBC Bitesize online has an expanded offer of structured lessons in Maths and English for all year groups – these can be used at home or in the classroom. This Term’s Topics covers other curriculum subjects and curates learning content that works for the Spring curriculum.
For secondary pupils, Bitesize is also home to two-week learning packs for English and Maths in KS3 (years 7, 8 and 9) as well as This Term’s Topics for other subjects to be used at home or to support teachers in the remote classrooms.
For students in Years 10 and 11, the Bitesize GCSE offer allows students to pick their exam board and subject to find everything they need to help with their studies.
Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, added: “The BBC has helped the nation through some of the toughest moments of the last century, and for the next few weeks it will help our children learn whilst we stay home, protect the NHS and save lives. This will be a lifeline to parents and I welcome the BBC playing its part.”
Stay tuned for a full Spring Term Timetable, plus our fully updated homeschooling streaming guide of what educational programming is available where and when.