BBC publishes formal learning spend figures

The BBC has today published, for the first time, information on how much it spends on formal learning online resources.

The BBC provides online learning content such as Bitesize and Class Clips for young people and adult resources including Languages and Skillswise.

The publication of these figures follows an agreement reached with the BBC Trust to make more information available on formal learning spending. It is designed to create greater certainty about the BBC’s spending intentions for other providers in the online learning industry.

Controller of Learning, Saul Nassé, says: "We want to be more open about our editorial priorities and spending plans for Formal Leaning – and this is the first step in that process.

“Our aim is to improve our engagement with the commercial sector, and as part of that we’ll be holding bi-annual industry open meetings – the first of which takes place in the Autumn.”

The figures now published – available at bbc.co.uk/learningoverview/whatwespend – cover expenditure on the different online learning projects for both adults and children during 2009/10 as well as outline spending figures for the current year 2010/11. Also available is a summary of the recent Strategic Assessment Exercise approved by the BBC Trust, which sets out the future direction of formal learning for under-19 year olds.