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Our licence enables schools, colleges and universities to make educational use of recordings of TV and Radio broadcasts.

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English Literature programmes

Class in Oliver Twist | Novels That Shaped Our World

BBC Two | 2019 | 6'12''

An exploration of how Charles Dickens wove the stories of people from different class backgrounds into his novels.

The Gothic novel | Novels That Shaped Our World

BBC Two | 2019 | 1'13''

Why was the gothic novel such a popular form for female authors?

Literature and women | Novels That Shaped Our World

BBC Two | 2019 | 1'57''

An introduction to literature written by women.

Literature and class | Novels That Shaped Our World

BBC Two | 2019 | 2'35''

An introduction to analysing literature through theories of class difference.

Literature and Empire | Novels That Shaped Our World

BBC Two | 2019 | 2'01''

An introduction to analysing literature through theories of race and colonialism.

Contemporary working class authors | Novels That Shaped Our World

BBC Two | 2019 | 1'19''

A discussion of the pressures for working class authors to write about their own experiences.

James Berry and black British poetry | My Life in Verse

BBC Two | 2009 | 4'51''

James Berry discusses his poem 'To Travel This Ship' from the book 'Windrush Songs'.

Elizabeth Gaskell | Novels That Shaped Our World

BBC Two | 2019 | 5'26''

An exploration of how Mary Gaskell explored class difference in her novel Mary Barton.

African Literature | Africa Turns the Page: The Novels That Shaped a Continent

BBC Four | 2020 | 2'06''

An introduction to the rich history of literature by black African authors.

Virginia Woolf and feminism | Icons

BBC Two | 2019 | 2'57''

Lily Cole discusses 'A Room of One's Own' and the importance of Virginia Woolf's writing to feminism.

Queenie | Novels That Shaped Our World

BBC Two | 2019 | 3'56''

A discussion of women and race in Candice Carty-Williams's novel 'Queenie'. <br><br><i>Contains strong language and adult themes o...

Uncle Tom's Cabin - Harriet Beecher Stowe | Black and British: A Forgotten History

BBC Two | 2016 | 4'38''

In part three of this groundbreaking series, historian David Olusoga explores the Victoria...

Geography programmes

Renewable Energy | Around Scotland

BBC Two | 2008 | 3'22''

A house powered by three different forms of renewable energy.

Wave power | Around Scotland

BBC Two | 2008 | 2'13''

An exploration of renewable energy source, wave power, on the island of Isla.

Renewable Energy | Climate Change: The Facts

BBC One | 2019 | 3'42''

Methods of producing renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions.

Scottish wind farms | Making Scotland's Landscape

BBC One | 2010 | 1'57''

Professor Iain Stewart discusses wind power in Scotland.

Sustainable cities | Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered the World

BBC Two | 2015 | 4'13''

Professor Iain Stewart visits Masdar in Abu Dhabi, a city that relies on renewable energy.

Arguments against wind turbines | Power to the People

BBC Four | 2015 | 3'01''

Arguments for and against building more wind turbines in Scotland.

Problems with renewable energy | Power to the People

BBC Four | 2015 | 1'30''

Local residents fight against the introduction of power lines and renewable energy sources into the landscape.

Inside a wind turbine | Powering Britain

BBC One | 2020 | 3'14''

What a wind turbine looks like inside.

Storing renewable energy | Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

BBC Four | 2020 | 5'30''

Dr Tara Shine and Dr Enass Abo-Hamed explain how we can store renewable energy.

Aluminium and hydroelectric power | The Great British Countryside

BBC One | 2012 | 4'16''

The valleys of the Scottish Highlands, created by an ice age 2.5 million years ago, are crucial in the prod...

Liquid Air Energy Storage | Bang Goes the Theory

BBC One | 2014 | 3'13''

A demonstration of how liquid air energy storage would function.

History programmes

Ancient Sumer | Learning Zone

BBC Two | 2015 | 3'01''

We find out about many of the inventions developed in the area, as well as some of the reasons why the Sumer eventually died out.

Qin Shi Huang's China - Cheerleader Parody (Song) | Horrible Histories

CBBC | 2018 | 1'53''

Creator of the first Chinese Empire, Qin Shi Huang, shares his story in this song inspired by OMI's Ch...

The Indus Valley | Learning Zone

BBC Two | 2015 | 4'12''

The importance of the Indus River is emphasised, both for farming and for travel, as well as the design of the city and its houses.

The Maya | Learning Zone

BBC Two | 2015 | 3'54''

We find out the types of food that the Maya ate and the kind of buildings you would find in the cities.

The Shang Empire | Learning Zone

BBC Two | 2015 | 4'01''

The Shang developed writing amongst other inventions. This Bronze Age society developed a powerful army using bronze weapons.

Benin | Learning Zone

BBC Two | 2015 | 3'44''

Benin is famous for its bronzes. This film explores how they are made, using the 'lost wax' process, and why.

Browse BBC archives and subject playlists

Updates & Events

BBC Shakespeare Archive

Play over 1000 programmes from the BBC’s archive of Shakespeare’s plays, poems and sonnets.

Updates & Events

BBC Literary Archive

Play 800 programmes from the BBC’s archive of literary adaptations, performances and critiques. Available to educational institutions covered under the ERA Licence.

Updates & Events

Subject Playlists

Browse video playlists aligned to curriculum topics and specification objectives.

Coming up this term...

Black History Month

Neil Kenlock - Photographing the black British experience | Black and British: A Forgotten History

BBC Two | 2016 | 4'26''

David Olusoga talks to Neil Kenlock about his photographs of the experienc...

People of talent, people of vision, people of passion | Black Is the New Black

BBC Two | 2016 | 2'40''

Inspirational Black Britons describe what it is like to be Black and British today.

Black History Month Special with Oti Mabuse | Horrible Histories

CBBC | 2020 | 11'46''

Oti Mabuse presents a series of sketches from Horrible Histories to commemorate Black History Month.

The Windrush Generation | Black and British: A Forgotten History

BBC Two | 2016 | 6'43''

David Olusoga discusses the Windrush Generation.

Andrea Levy and the Windrush Generation | imagine…

BBC One | 2018 | 2'50''

Andrea Levy discusses the how her parents travelled to Britain as part of the Windrush Generation.

Windrush Generation Artists | Whoever Heard of a Black Artist? Britain's Hidden Art History

BBC Four | 2018 | 5'12''

The first black artists who were to find success were part of the Windrush Genera...

First generation | Black and Scottish

BBC Scotland | 2022 | 1'13''

The first black professor in Scotland talks about his heritage.

Charles Wootton | Black and British: A Forgotten History

BBC Two | 2016 | 4'19''

David Olusoga discusses racial violence in Liverpool.

Vernon Samuels | Black British Stories

CBBC | 2021 | 5'25''

Amelia meets Vernon, whose dad was the first black bus driver in Bristol after the success of the Bristol bus boycott.

The Toxteth Riots | A House Through Time

BBC Two | 2018 | 5'43''

In July 1981 riots broke out in Liverpool, following longstanding tensions between police and the black community. David Olusoga inv...

Martin Luther King and Malcolm X | Arena

BBC Four | 2016 | 2'09''

A conversation between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, exposing their different approaches to Civil Rights.

Typical accommodation for an immigrant black family in 1940s Britain | Back in Time for Brixton

BBC One | 2016 | 3'53''

The Irwins experience what accommodation was like for immigrant black familie...

The beginnings of the British slave trade | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

BBC Two | 2015 | 3'23''

David Olusoga investigates the beginnings of the British slave trade in Barbados.

The end of the slave trade in Bristol | A House Through Time

BBC Two | 2020 | 4'29''

David Olusoga investigates the end of the slave trade in Bristol.

Anti-Bullying Week: 14th-20th Nov

The Truth About Bullying | Lifebabble

CBBC | 2016 | 3'59''

The Lifebabble team talk about bullying, from the basics to sharing their own experiences.

Katie Piper and image | Nikki Lilly Meets…

CBBC | 2018 | 5'45''

Nikki meets up with TV presenter and Strictly Come Dancing 2018 contestant Katie Piper, to chat about dealing with visible diffe...

Bye Bye Bullying (song) | The Muckers

CBBC | 2015 | 2'55''

The Muckers support CBBC's national Anti-Bullying week by introducing and singing their galvanising song Bye Bye Bullying.

Bullying | Zig and Zag's Zogcast

CBBC | 2018 | 2'40''

Zig and Zag report back to Zog about bullying. They explain if you're being bullied you should speak to someone you trust, tell a teacher if...

Being a Bully | Lifebabble

CBBC | 2016 | 4'00''

The Lifebabble team talk about why people bully. They explain that there's no single reason for why people do this and look at when banter can bec...

Cyberbullying | Newsround Specials

CBBC | 2014 | 15'13''

In this Newsround special, Ricky investigates cyberbullying. He speaks to those affected by it, and those who have overcome it.

Bullying Experience | Own It

CBBC | 2018 | 1'36''

Cast members of "The Dumping Ground" give advice on the issues of Bullying.

Georgia Toffolo and bullying | Nikki Lilly Meets…

CBBC | 2018 | 1'57''

They chat about life as a teenager, moving schools, acne, mood swings and how important it is to express your emotions.

Prejudice | Lifebabble

CBBC | 2017 | 3'58''

The Lifebabble team talk about prejudice - what it means and how it feels to experience prejudice. Dr Aaron gives advice on how it can be easy to be p...

Bullying Advice | Own It

CBBC | 2018 | 1'24''

Cast members of "The Dumping Ground" give advice on what to do if you are the Bully.

King Ethelred gets bullied | Horrible Histories

CBBC | 2011 | 3'14''

Saxon king Ethelred the Unready suffers online bullying from the Vikings.

What Friends Are For | Our School

CBBC | 2017 | 14'01''

In this special episode for CBBC's anti-bullying week, the staff and students of Our School offer some solid advice on what to do if you en...

Bullying: The Newsround Debate | Newsround Specials

CBBC | 2015 | 15'11''

Ricky and Leah talk to children about their experiences of bullying in front of an audience of 100 children. They ask que...

Being bullied | SEN Skills for Life

BBC Two | 2016 | 4'32''

Since accidentally bumping into a girl outside a classroom at school, a boy has been picked on and bullied by her and her friend. They ge...

To the Bully | Own It

CBBC | 2018 | 1'36''

Cast members of "The Dumping Ground" share their experiences of Bullying.

Cry Rosa

BBC Two | 2018 | 20'01''

Rosa, a music-obsessed, mixed-race 11 year-old girl, starts to question her identity when she becomes the victim of bullying in 1980s inner-city Belfast.

Whose Side Are You On? | Newsround Specials

CBBC | 2011 | 13'42''

Celebrities including champion boxer Joe Calzaghe and JLS pop star Aston share their tales of childhood bullying. A drama tells t...

Bullying Advice Part 1 | Friday Download

CBBC | 2014 | 5'00''

The team deliver a two-part What's Up Download with advice for both those being bullied.

Bullying Advice Part 2 | Friday Download

CBBC | 2014 | 5'18''

The team deliver a two-part What's Up Download with advice for anyone that might worry that they are acting like a bully.

Cyberbullying | Lifebabble

CBBC | 2012 | 4'00''

The team talk about cyberbullying: what it is, how it happens and how it feels to be cyberbullied.

What is a Bully? | Own It

CBBC | 2018 | 1'01''

Cast members of "The Dumping Ground" explain what Bullying is.

National Storytelling Week

Inspector Gooles speech | An Inspector Calls

BBC One | 2015 | 2'25''

In a film adaption of 'An Inspector Calls', Inspector Goole's speech.

What was the inspiration for Jekyll's double life? | Ian Rankin Investigates: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

BBC Four | 2007 | 6'16''

Ian Rankin investigates what inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to construct...

The Great Gatsby | Novels That Shaped Our World

BBC Two | 2019 | 3'49''

A class analysis of Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby'.

Adapting the book into a play | The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: From Page to Stage

BBC Two | 2013 | 4'36''

Simon Stephens discusses his process of adapting 'The Curious Incident ...

The Canterbury Tales' | The Beauty of Books

BBC Four | 2011 | 5'13''

An exploration of the audience, characters and intentions of 'The Canterbury Tales'.

ERA is one of the most valuable resources I have come across - having access to such a vast library of video clips, films and documentaries is of real benefit when planning and delivering lessons. The ability to request specific clips and documentaries has been a gamechanger - no more using grainy old videos that were recorded years ago! ERA have provided access to a number of one-off documentaries that are no longer available online. To have free access to these resources is incredible - thank you so much!

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Wilsthorpe School, Nottingham

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Geography Head of Department
William Perkin Church of England High School, Greenford

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Search TV & Radio programmes

English Literature programmes

Geography programmes

History programmes

BBC Shakespeare Archive

BBC Literary Archive

Subject Playlists

Black History Month

Anti-Bullying Week: 14th-20th Nov

National Storytelling Week

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