CHANNEL 4 EDUCATION NEWSLETTER JUNE 2009
TALKING TO TEENAGERS
YearDot and Battlefront

Jamal

Two of our most ambitious cross-platform projects, YearDot and Battlefront, are coming to the end of their first season. All the campaigners got together in London to meet each other, their mentors and some VIP supporters, including Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Schools and Families. Battlefront campaigns have had a big impact in the last nine months, with press coverage, TV appearances, marches, stunts and events all over the UK. They've demonstrated how the web can connect people who share a passion and help them make a difference. Next year, we hope to open up the platform so that anyone can upload and run a campaign on the site.

 Meanwhile, our Yeardotters have given us a fascinating insight into the challenges facing teens in the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Jamal has successfully launched his 'Off The Streets' project in Peterborough, Chloe has struggled with injury as she works towards qualifying for 2012, Aaron has learnt a lot about running a business as he sets up his Dance Academy in South London, and Gilly lifted the Woman's FA Cup with the Arsenal Ladies' team at Wembley! We want to work with partners to re-commission YearDot for next year, focusing on the issues facing UK teens in a credit crunch world.To find out more about Battlefront click here or for YearDot click here.
 
TALKING TO TEENAGERS
Routes

Our science and genetics projects Routes has been reversioned for life on the web after its live run, and we're producing teachers' resources to accompany the project. We're proud to say thirteen million people played its flash game Sneeze, no doubt inspired by swine flu anxieties. More than 400,000 visited the site and around 60% of the registered subscribers were female. To see for yourself click here.

 
PEAK-TIME EDUCATION
Animal Autopsy

Animal Autopsy - Giraffe		 A new four-part Channel 4 science series will reveal the anatomical secrets of some of the animal kingdom's most extraordinary species. Made in co-operation with the Royal Veterinary College, Animal Autopsy will use dissection, CGI and wildlife photography to demonstrate from the inside out how millions of years of evolution have enabled four species - the elephant, giraffe, crocodile and whale - to thrive in their environmental niches. Channel 4's Commissioning Editor for Science, David Glover, said: "This series offers an alternative take on natural history, giving viewers a unique chance to see for themselves how evolution has shaped the anatomy of some of nature's most magnificent animals."

TX from 29 June at 9pm
 
PEAK-TIME EDUCATION
Greatest Musical Prodigies

Alexander Prior		 This three-part-series showcases the world's most remarkable musical prodigies and the classical stars of tomorrow. 16-year-old Alexander Prior is one of Britain's most talented and prolific young composers. He began composing at the age of eight and has already written more than 40 works including symphonies, concertos, two ballets, two operas and a Requiem Mass.

 Channel 4 has commissioned Alexander to compose a concerto featuring some of the world's most brilliant young musicians. In the series Alex travels to the USA, China and Russia to pick four child prodigies who will travel to the UK to premiere his concerto at The Sage in Gateshead, accompanied by the Northern Sinfonia orchestra.

TX from 8 June at 9pm
 
CREATING DEBATE CREATING DEBATE
Partnering with ESSA Education briefing
Channel 4 is partnering the English Secondary Students' Association in its 'Manifesto for Change' competition. ESSA are asking young people between 11 and 19 to create videos of up to three minutes in length suggesting ways to improve their schools and education. The competition is supported by NESTA and the winning videos will be shown on Channel 4 in the Autumn. The closing date is 18 June so don't delay, get your students to submit their videos. For more information click here.
 Channel 4 Education is looking for new ideas from production companies for 2010. On 2 June we'll be hosting a briefing for producers interested in working with us on new projects. Janey Walker, Matt Locke and Alice Taylor will share insights from our recent cross-platform projects, and talk about the issues we're addressing in 2010 and beyond. These include emotional wellbeing and the issue of 'territory' and teens access to public space. For a transcription of the Education Briefing click here
CREATING DEBATE
Teachers' Day
Channel 4 Education is hosting a teachers' day on June 30th to discuss 21st century learning and the role of games and new technology in education. If you want to know more, please email Steve Moore.
 
NEW TALENT NEW TALENT
4 Talent Sheffield Doc/Fest

2008 Youth Jury
deliberating		 4Talent will be hosting a Teachers' Event at Channel 4 on 10 July for 50 teachers who are teaching the creative and media diploma. The aim of the event is to invite teachers to Channel 4 to experience different areas of our business, talk to industry experts and participate in master classes to sample the skills, experiences and attitudes needed to work in the media. If you would like to attend please email us at wrl@channel4.co.uk for an application form; the closing date for applications is Friday 19 June.
 4Talent has teamed up with the Sheffield Doc/Fest to create a 2009 Youth Jury. Five young people will attend the Doc/Fest in November and select the winner of the prestigious Sheffield Doc/Fest Youth Jury Award. They'll also have a week at Channel 4's Hothouse, where they'll learn new skills that could help them become one of tomorrow's documentary stars. To find out more about the Youth Jury 2009 and see the video from last year's Jurors click here.
 
For more information about any of the projects, programmes or events detailed here please contact:
Rachel Postgate, email: rpostgate@channel4.co.uk, Telephone: 020 7306 8282