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Britain on Film: Series 2

Jenny MacLeod

David Okuefuna

Britain on Film: Series 2: Episode 2: Kids Today

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How childhood was transformed by changes to the British educational system in the 1960s.

Using the Rank Organisation's Look at Life documentaries, a look at how childhood was transformed by sweeping changes to the British educational system in the 1960s.

In 1959 Britain's biggest cinema company, the Rank Organisation, decided to replace its newsreels with a series of short, quirky, topical documentaries that examined all aspects of life in Britain. During the 1960s - a decade that witnessed profound shifts across Britain's political, economic and cultural landscapes - many felt anxiety about the dizzying pace of change. 

Look at Life reflected the increasing social and moral unease in films that tackled subjects ranging from contraception to immigration; from increasing stress at work to the preservation of the Sabbath; and from the environmental implications of waste management to the threat of nuclear weapons. Through these films, we can glimpse many of the seismic societal transformations of the Sixties developments that polarised the nation and changed life in Britain forever.

This episode delves into the fast-changing world of childhood, a life-stage that was being transformed by sweeping changes to the British educational system including the introduction of radical technologies and teaching methods in schools and the emergence of new organised leisure activities that gave a generation of children the freedom to enjoy play as never before.

Kids Today

Britain on Film

Using Rank's Look at Life documentary shorts to examine 1960s British society.

Using the Rank Organisation's Look at Life documentary shorts to examine British society during the 1960s.

Knowledge, arts, music and culture from the UK and the world.

BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

Series 2

Series using the Look at Life documentary shorts to examine 1960s British society.

Series using the Rank Organisation's Look at Life documentary shorts to examine British society during the 1960s.

Episode 2

Episode 2: Kids Today

BBC Four - Britain on Film, Series 2, Kids TodaySearch BBC

This episode delves into the fast-changing world of childhood, a life-stage that was being transformed by sweeping changes to the British educational system including the introduction of radical technologies and teaching methods in schools and the emergence of new organised leisure activities that gave a generation of children the freedom to enjoy play as never before.

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