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The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ today launches a new strategy to put learning right at the heart of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ and provide learning opportunities for all audiences. Utilising the power of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s big brands and key talent, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Learning hopes to make sure that everyone is given the opportunity to learn new skills, knowledge or ideas.

The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s learning department, which is part of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Knowledge, is spearheading the new strategy but all the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s platforms, genres, regions and nations will be involved in making it a reality. A new contestable learning fund of £5million is being created next year to enhance the learning impact of key content across the entire ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ whether made in-house or by indies. And a learning exchange will be set up with a small team being able to offer advice on education, creativity and partnerships.

New initiatives announced today include a new series of the EastEnders online spin-off drama E20; a new daytime literacy campaign; a new series designed to get the nation "hands on" with history and face-to-face events for the new Brian Cox series, Stargazing. ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Learning has also committed to spend more on television shows aimed at adults who need help with basic skills and invest in learning projects aimed at older teens on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Three.

Controller of Learning, Saul Nassé, says: "When I was a child I was inspired to study science by Raymond Baxter on Tomorrow's World, a show I later went on to edit. I want everyone in Britain to have a similar story of how the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ enriched their life.

"I want to use ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ programmes that are known and loved by audiences that can serve as springboards for learning, whether that be a drama or a documentary. Many broadcasters "inform" and "entertain" but we are the only one that has "educate" at the heart of our public purpose. We have a wealth of content at our disposal and I want to ensure we are making the most of it – making it accessible and available to all."

The new Learning Strategy aims to maximise the learning potential of all the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s output and provide opportunities for everyone to learn that bit more – be it simply by attending a Bang Goes The Theory roadshow or by utilising online resources to help study for a crucial GCSE.

Saul says: "We'll be enlisting the help of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s best talent to maximise the reach of our output; inviting key presenters such as historian Michael Wood to film pieces that can be played directly into the classroom."

Key to the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s new Learning Strategy will be investing in programmes that can inspire interest from a mainstream audience such as Bang Goes The Theory (³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One) and EastEnders. Working with EastEnders, Learning will be funding the new series of the online drama E20. They will work with young people to develop storylines that bring to life subjects in the Personal, Social, Health Education (PHSE) curriculum such as bullying or peer pressure.

The new strategy also seeks to target those adults who need help with basic skills. In partnership with ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Daytime, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Learning is going to mount a major adult literacy event which will include factual and drama on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One, outreach partnerships and online elements. In the late Seventies the series On The Move, starring Bob Hoskins, was a catalyst in an extremely effective literacy campaign which helped tens of thousands of people. The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ will be inviting television dramatists to come up with a compelling contemporary drama that will serve as the lynchpin of the new campaign to tackle adult literacy levels today.

Science and History are two areas ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Learning will be focusing their resources.

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Learning has funded the new series Wallace & Gromit's World of Inventions (³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One) and will be taking the show around the country with a series of roadshows and workshops, to be announced shortly, designed to inspire an interest in inventing and science. Learning will also be supporting the two new Brian Cox series' Wonders Of The Universe and Stargazing. Stargazing events will be held across the UK with science centres, observatories and national parks joining in with a series of star parties and stargazing walks to encourage public engagement.

Building on the success of the new series Michael Wood's The Story Of England, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Learning is going to commission a new eight-part series The Story Of The Nation (³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two). This landmark Michael Wood series will tell the story of our country through communities investigating their local history. It will be accompanied by 15 regional programmes showcasing local places viewers can visit for themselves to get "hands on" with history.

Everyone who is inspired by ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ content will have the opportunity to find out more, deepen their knowledge and get invlved with events in their local area. A new "Things to Do" activity finder will bring together the very best activities organised by the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ and its partners off the back of great TV, radio and online content. Not only will the site highlight the events that bring people together, such as the C³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Deadly Days Out that are currently drawing audiences of thousands of families, it will provide the opportunity for "on location" content provided direct to mobile phones such as Countryfile trails.

Providing resources for teachers and students will continue to be critical to the work of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Learning. So Bitesize will continue as the cornerstone of our online portfolio but, together with the Teachers site, it will become more interactive and draw more on core ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ talent. Online adult learners will be targeted through Skillswise, Webwise and ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Connect.

CR