TWO SCHOOLS in Thornbury and Alveston will be the focus of a new BBC television show exploring the challenges and triumphs of the British education system.

The show, commissioned by the BBC and the Open University currently under the working title “School” will feature Castle School and Marlwood School as well as Downend and Mangotsfield, all of which are part of the Castle School Education Trust (CSET).

Production company Label1, who were behind BBC Two documentary “Hospital”, which broadcast earlier this year, will create six one-hour shows, again for BBC Two, which will be broadcast in 2018.

The filming teams are not set to be in schools every day and as filming progresses, the show creators have said they will be working with chief executive Will Roberts and the schools’ head teachers to “discuss the overall structure of the series.”

The creators have already liaised with staff and parents and the school, with the promise that no one would be featured against their wishes.

In a letter sent out to parents earlier this month, a spokeswoman for Label1 reassured parents and carers that their “number one priority is the well-being and protection of every child” and that they “recognised teaching must come first.”

She said: “We have been working with CSET to compile a strict set of filming and editorial guidelines and no child will be broadcast on television against the wishes of their parent or carer.”

CSET chief executive Will Roberts said he was very pleased that the four CSET schools would be in focus for the BBC documentary.

“There is lots of public interest in education,” he said, “and this series will explore how teachers and leaders are responding to the challenges that face schools.

“We are proud of the work of our staff and students, and look forward to sharing our successes with a wider audience this year.

“Needless to say, we have thought very carefully about the practical arrangements before agreeing to participate.

“No student or staff member will be filmed against their wishes, and the filming will be set up to be as unobtrusive as possible.

“The producers understand that education comes first, and will work with us to ensure that filming does not get in the way of our work with students.”

For more information, visit www.label1.tv.