BBC Bitesize Scotland has published ten guides for secondary school pupils, in collaboration with Screen Scotland, to support the new Film and Screen curriculum rolled out in Scottish schools last year.
Each article focuses on one of ten elements of filmmaking, helping the audience learn how narrative structure, camera technique, sound, lighting, production design, editing, and other factors work together to tell stories on screen. With key terms, tips, and examples from film and TV, these simple, inspiring guides are designed to support young people studying the Film and Screen curriculum.
The resources are accompanied by a series of bespoke films created by award-winning production company, Studio Something. Narrated by presenter Beth Wallace, and featuring pupils from Portobello High School, Edinburgh, these inspirational films are a fun, accessible introduction to the creative choices and techniques that shape brilliant on-screen storytelling. Additional films set specific easy challenges supporting young people to have a go, try things out and be creative in their film and screen learning.
The guides can be found on the BBC Bitesize website.
In 2025, Screen Scotland, along with Education Scotland and the Scottish Government, launched the national rollout of Film and Screen into Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence. All pupils across Scotland aged from three to 18, are entitled to learn about film and screen as a practical expressive arts subject, as part of the national curriculum.
In addition to this suite of resources, production is now underway to create Bitesize Film and Screen resources for primary schools which will be published early in 2027.
BBC Bitesize is a free online study support resource designed to help with learning, revision and homework. Bitesize provides support for learners aged 3 to 16+ across a wide range of school subjects.
Hayley Valentine, Director of BBC Scotland, said: “We are immensely proud of our educational output at BBC Scotland. We know that young people across the nation turn to BBC Bitesize to support their learning and it’s fantastic to collaborate with Screen Scotland on these new Film and Screen resources to continue that. We hope these new resources will spark creativity in the next generation of filmmakers.”
David Smith, Director of Screen Scotland, said: “The response to the curriculum from pupils, teachers and parents from across Scotland has been incredible and there’s already evidence of the positive impact it’s having on learning outcomes. It’s fantastic that the Film and Screen Curriculum is now being supported via BBC Bitesize through these invaluable resources.”
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Image credits: Studio Something