BBC TV Schools and Colleges 1960 – 1974

From September 19th 1960, the BBC began broadcasting schools television in the mornings on BBC One. Although information is scarce and somewhat vague, BBC Schools presentation between launch and 1967 used a pie-chart style interval and was controlled mechanically! It was used at the start of the day’s programmes as well as in-between programmes. There were two variants of the clock.

From launch until around 1967, a pie-chart style clock was used with vanishing segments. At one minute before the programme the vanishing segments would reveal the final clock. In the bottom right the words “BBC tv” were shown. Onward from 1967 and a rather boring greyscale test pattern was shown. There would be a continuous tone (maybe 1kHz). The pie-chart remained between programmes. However the text on the bottom right changed to “BBC”. At one minute before the programme, a clock would be displayed. This presentation style ran until Autumn term 1974. The 1960 – 1967 sequence (images 1 and 2) is extremely rare! Understanding The Junction – At A Glance Designer: UNKNOWN (Presumed BBC in-house) Sequence: Greater than 1 minute until clock countdown Running: Circa September 1960 – June 1974.