Interview with Nick Whines, 19 January 2010

Nick Whines trained as a primary teacher but joined the BBC shortly afterwards and from 1972 was responsible for schools history programmes, initially on radio and from 1985 on television. He describes the process for creating a history programme for radio and the involvement of Bulmershe College and teacher feedback in the planning of programmes. Whines highlights the key role of drama in the broadcasting of history for schools. Before the National Curriculum was introduced in 1990, many primary schools relied on radio and then TV programmes as the core of their history curriculum. Sales of accompanying materials for class use were considerable. Finally he reflects on changes in the use of technology in the classroom in recent years. Interviewed by Nicola Sheldon