Much More Than Music and Movement

Derek Lamb tunes into the history of BBC School Radio

- Derek Lamb

Most readers will recall starting school, aged about five. It was often daunting, and something of a step into the unknown.

I clearly remember that day in September 1954; the little bottle of milk with a straw, rolling Plasticine into worms and a large cupboard on the wall. Filing in from the playground after lunch, we sat down to the reassuring sound of Listen With Mother. So began a six-year relationship with the radio speaker housed in the “large cupboard”. The quantity, variety and quality of school radio from the 1950s to the 1970s has been considered its golden age.

When the British Broadcasting Company was established in 1922, its first director general, John Reith, stated that its purpose was to “inform, educate and entertain”, so it was to be expected that there would be specific programmes for schools.

The first was in 1924. Various consultations then took place, and Mary Somerville was appointed as the first Director of Schools Broadcasting in 1929, a post she held until 1947. She was an inspired choice. At a time when radio was seen by many as an entertainment medium, she believed that drama, music and sound effects could enhance programmes and enrich educational standards.

The emphasis in the 1930s was on programmes for secondary schools. Under the title For the Schools, there were dedicated morning and afternoon slots for schools programmes, mostly on the BBC National Programme. On 22 February 1937 these were:

11.45am German for older pupils

2pm Science and gardening

2.20pm Music course 2

2.40pm Early stages in German

Regional stations also broadcast programmes that would appeal to pupils in that area.

Most programmes were 20 minutes long, a duration that became the norm.