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Press Releases
BBC Learning is coming North
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As part of a major effort by the BBC to better serve audiences across the UK, BBC Learning is meeting over 200 representatives of organisations based in the north to discuss its work and future plans, at a conference at the University of Salford on Friday (24 October).
BBC Learning is one of five BBC departments (the others being Sport, Children's, Radio 5 Live and parts of Future Media and Technology) which will be relocated from London to a brand new home at MediaCityUK at Salford Quays in 2011.
At Friday's event, an invited audience of people from across the North of England – including senior figures from education and the arts – will hear about the opportunities that the move to Salford offers and put forward their own views on BBC Learning's activities.
Areas to be covered include developing skills for children and young people, curriculum learning and adult skills.
The guest speaker will be the Rt Hon Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and MP for Salford.
The conference will be introduced by Ranvir Singh, BBC North West Tonight presenter.
Also giving his particular view on "what the BBC should know about the north" is Tony Livesey, BBC Radio Lancashire breakfast presenter and North West Tonight sports presenter.
Commenting on the aims of the event Liz Cleaver, Controller, BBC Learning, said: "BBC Learning is coming north and we want to discuss our work and our plans for the future with as many interested parties as possible.
"We already work with many organisations in the region – from both traditional and non-traditional areas of learning – and we want to ensure that our presence in Salford will open up new opportunities and lead to creative new ways of working in the future.
"This conference is a great way to start the dialogue."
In addition to the conference, BBC Learning's teenage creativity project, BBC Blast, will be in Salford from 22 to 25 October as the finale of its 2008 UK tour.
The Blast Learning Festival is taking place on the University of Salford campus, offering teenagers an opportunity to explore a variety of free workshops and other events.
Building on the success of last year's visit to Salford, the Blast truck will convert into an impressive mobile digital learning studio with a performance marquee outside.
Young people will also be able to find out about media-related jobs, education and training at a "progression routes fair".
The Salford Blast Festival is supported by Salford City Council and the University of Salford.
University staff will be delivering hands-on workshops in fashion, design, stand-up comedy and film, and young visitors will be offered interactive tours where they can find out about university life and meet current students.
Notes to Editors
The Formal Learning team within BBC Learning will be moving to Salford in 2011.
Formal Learning offers a portfolio of resources and activities to support the learning needs of children, teenagers and adults.
As well as curriculum-related material, there is a growing emphasis on helping people of all ages develop a range of skills.
Key areas of activity within Formal Learning include:
 Bitesize – the BBC's interactive learning support and revision offering, providing learning games to help younger children develop literacy and numeracy skills and support for older children preparing for tests and exams
RaW skills for everyday life – a new personalised, interactive, video-rich site currently in development which will help adults develop confidence in "skills for everyday life" including literacy, numeracy, ICT and communication skills
Learning Zone Broadband – a rich online source of audio-visual material tagged to the school curriculum which enables teachers to find the best clips to fit lessons.
Languages – content for learners of all abilities in over 40 languages
Blast – teenagers can develop their skills and confidence through engagement in the creative arts via the Blast website and through outreach activity with the Blast truck
21cc – the BBC's digital learning centre in Salford and London explores creative ways of using new technology in teaching and learning through workshops for children, teachers and community groups.
BBC Press Office
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