Back in Time for School

Original version

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

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Documentaries

Factual: History

Fifteen pupils and their teachers embark on an extraordinary time-travelling adventure.

Fifteen pupils and their teachers embark on an extraordinary time-travelling adventure as they fast-forward through more than 100 years of school life.

Series 1

BBC Scotland

BBC Two England

England

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

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BBC Two Northern Ireland

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

BBC Two Scotland

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BBC Scotland HD

Sara Cox

Polly Russell

Elin Jones

Rebecca Whyte

Morgana Pugh

Emily Shields

Joe Pedder

Emily Assael

Christina Nutter

Back in Time for School: Series 1: Episode 8

Episode 8

BBC Two - Back in Time for School, Series 1, Episode 8

A modern class reflect on 100 years of time travel and venture beyond - into the future.

Our class return for one final adventure. Reflecting on the past 100 years, they venture beyond, into a future filled with virtual classrooms and artificial intelligence.

Fifteen pupils and their teachers have embarked on an extraordinary time-travelling adventure through seven eras of British history. Starting out in the age of Empire in 1895, they have lived lessons, life and dinners all the way through to the end of the 1990s, with their school as their time machine. Now they are returning for one last adventure. 

In this final episode of the series, the class and teachers return to school for their very own reunion party, where they are joined by presenter Sara Cox and social historian Polly Russell. As pupils, teachers and families celebrate together, they reflect on over 100 years of time travel and explore how the legacy of the past lives on in the schools of today.

But their journey isn’t over yet, as our intrepid class of pupils set off to explore what the future of the classroom might look like. They experience the cutting-edge possibilities of virtual classrooms and contend with the unsettling notion of lessons run by artificial intelligence. 

As they relive some of their favourite memories, from school dinners to weird and wonderful lessons, they compare how their historical experiences measure up to the present and the future. 

Will a modern school dinner ever match the joy they felt when helping themselves to chips, pizza, waffles and mash in the 1980s? Can a cross-country run ever be less traumatic, even when accompanied by pioneering tech? And can a simulation really make 21st-century teens fall in love with their history lessons?

Life-changing memories are shared, and before the end of the party, the class join together for one final school photo.

Back in Time for School: Series 1

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Back in Time for School

Series 1

Episode 8

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