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Although ITV Schools began in 1957, much of it is very rare, hence all you will see is what was acquired. So this compendium runs from roughly 1981 to the mid-2000s (excluding some placeholders and countdowns used).
S4C was the Welsh version of Channel 4 (until 2010, when it became fully independent), and both belonged to ITV from 1982-1993. Hence Channel 4 and S4C had their own versions of ITV Schools, which had previously run on ITV between 1957 and 1987, when ITV transferred its schools programming to Channel 4 and S4C so that it’s morning schedule could be commercialised.
The name ITV Schools was kept on Channel 4 however, due to the fact that all programming was produced by ITV franchises (Channel 4 and S4C didn’t and still don’t make their own programmes). S4C educational content meanwhile was never called ITV Schools, only S4C Schools, and occasionally S4C even produced its own, Welsh language programming under the banner S4C Ysgolion.
With Channel 4 becoming independent in 1993, ITV Schools was rebranded under several different names including 4Schools and 4Learning, before eventually settling on Channel 4 Schools. S4C Schools/S4C Ysgolian maintained its own branding, and in 1993 adopted its own presentation, separate to Channel 4.
ITV Schools aired from 9.30am-12pm until 1987, when it aired from 9.25am. Around the turn of the 21st century, with the increasing prevalence of online multimedia and Channel 4’s burgeoning move to more commercially appealing morning output, Channel 4 Learning was transferred to a graveyard slot of around 4am-6am weekday mornings. The strand was eventually retired altogether in 2009.
ITV Schools though was probably most famous for its iconic rotomotion ident, which used computer artistery techniques which were state-of-the-art at the time, and a big leap forward from ITV’s rather creaky, dated presentation which preceded it.
The rotomotion era is also famous for the use of the compositions ‘The Journey’ and ‘Just A Minute’, composed by ‘James Aldenham’ AKA Brian Bennett, drummer with the band The Shadows. Brian has composed many pieces and incidental music for TV over the years including Birds Of A Feather, New Tricks and BBC Sport.
A third track, thought to be a library track, was also used in the early days of ITV Schools on 4 but its origins are unknown. The branding was updated in 1993, with an industrial drone complete with reverbed bleeps over 30-second, still promos. These survived Channel 4’s 1996 rebrand but were updated and renamed 4Learning when Channel 4 updated its look again in 1999, and then again in 2005.
The latter day promos and idents for Channel 4 Learning are notably more colourful and friendly than the interesting but rather obscure predecessor package, and really did offer some quite stunning visuals for the time. Sadly TV schools programming is obsolete in the internet age, but here’s to the heady days of brilliant presentational music, naff documentaries and massive TVs on wheeled trollies in classrooms up and down the country!
Please note that this megamix includes no substantial inter-programming content, only opening and closing credits from a small number of shows. It mostly consists of ITV Schools intervals. A small number of fantastic mocks are also included.
All content is owned by ITV/Channel 4/S4C/Brian Bennett etc. etc and we own none of it. No copyright infringement of any kind is intended.
For entertainment purposes only
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