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BBC Bitesize WJEC GCSE History
Animation Brief
BBC Learning
August 2017
BBC Bitesize: WJEC GCSE History ITT
August 2017
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Contents About BBC Bitesize .................................................................................................................................. 3
Who is the BBC Bitesize audience? ..................................................................................................... 3
Style, tone and the Bitesize brand ...................................................................................................... 3
Summary of deliverables .................................................................................................................... 4
Look and feel ....................................................................................................................................... 4
WJEC GCSE History .................................................................................................................................. 5
Requirements .......................................................................................................................................... 5
Education consultant .......................................................................................................................... 6
Outline of work ................................................................................................................................... 7
General points ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Concepts, storyboards and scripts ...................................................................................................... 7
About this commission ....................................................................................................................... 8
Diversity .............................................................................................................................................. 8
User-testing ......................................................................................................................................... 8
Deliverables......................................................................................................................................... 8
Out of scope ........................................................................................................................................ 8
The process ............................................................................................................................................. 8
Storyboards/creative approach .......................................................................................................... 9
Project team ........................................................................................................................................ 9
Indicative budget ................................................................................................................................ 9
Production schedule ........................................................................................................................... 9
Proposal deliverable list ...................................................................................................................... 9
Working with the BBC ........................................................................................................................... 10
Company and project team profile ................................................................................................... 10
Links to relevant portfolio examples ................................................................................................ 10
Budget ............................................................................................................................................... 10
Working together .................................................................................................................................. 10
Who’s responsible for what? ............................................................................................................ 10
The BBC Learning team ..................................................................................................................... 11
Schedule/project management ........................................................................................................ 11
The pitching process ............................................................................................................................. 12
Key dates ........................................................................................................................................... 12
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Selection ............................................................................................................................................ 12
Next steps ............................................................................................................................................. 13
Appendix A ............................................................................................................................................ 14
Video spec for delivery ..................................................................................................................... 14
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About BBC Bitesize
Who is the BBC Bitesize audience? Bitesize is the BBC’s study support service for students, helping 3-16-year-olds with their coursework,
homework and preparation for tests and exams. Bitesize covers core subjects at primary, Welsh
Foundation phase and Scottish 1st and 2nd levels, and a much wider range of subjects at secondary,
including KS3, GCSE, Welsh TGAU, Scottish National 4 and 5, WBQ and Welsh CBC.
BBC Bitesize is used by approximately three-quarters of secondary school students in the UK.
Although Bitesize now incorporates video and animation clips for use in class by teachers, this
commission is part of our student-facing content and will sit within our study guides.
Further audience insights can be found within the following document:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/cmr/cmr16/uk/CMR_UK_2016.pdf
Style, tone and the Bitesize brand BBC Bitesize is a highly trusted brand that students know they can turn to for reliable and
trustworthy information produced in a high quality and entertaining way.
Bitesize brand values:
quality learning resources with high production values, tailored to the needs of our audience
clear, concise delivery of the key educational points - bite-sized chunks
accessible to every level of academic ability and learning style
factually correct, high-quality and curriculum-relevant content
simple, straightforward language
funny or quirky tone (where appropriate)
innovative educational media formats
The video links below - whilst not necessarily being representative of the style we’re looking for from
this specific commission - give an indication of the scope and wide variety of Bitesize videos and
animations currently available:
GCSE History: Medicine through time http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2LwpBTHK7f5PwhwFNYJ6GV7/medicine-through-time
GCSE English Literature: Great Expectations Plot http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02nmq46
GCSE French: Sport http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02nm39n
GCSE Maths: Solving algebraic problems
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02m44z6
• GCSE Maths Numeracy: Loci and constructions (example of bilingual offering) English: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zc3xp39/video Welsh reversion: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zsjr82p/video
WBQ: Global citizenship challenge: Creativity and innovation (example of bilingual offering)
English: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zxyxtyc/video
Welsh reversion: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zpjr4j6/video
Summary of deliverables
BBC Bitesize is looking for animation proposals to complement content for the brand new
specification from the WJEC for the GCSE History qualification. For this commission we are looking
for c. 30'00" minutes of animation delivered in English and Welsh, for a total budget of £85,000.
The style and tone of the animation content should be pitched beyond the 14-16 age range. At this
stage we would prefer to see proposals that look too old rather than too young.
Given the animations are being produced for the Bitesize audience we steer clear of talking animals
and inanimate objects in animations (which can ‘age-down’ content).
We are looking for a suite of 9 online linear animations to be delivered in both English and Welsh,
with a total duration of approximately 30'00". The maximum budget for the commission is £85,000.
We are eager to offer some variety in approach that will keep the content fresh, unique and
appealing and will capture the tastes of a broad spectrum of learners.
The animation content should appeal to KS4 students in the 14-16 age range working towards the
WJEC's new GSCE History qualification, although the style and tone should be pitched beyond the
14-16 age range. The animations shouldn’t alienate students working at a low ability or high ability
level, so there should be scope to engage students of any age who are interested in learning. All
animations need to cover some basics, but also include more advanced elements and ideas. Special
thought should be given to how the animations can be made as accessible as possible.
Animations should be concise, lively and imaginative, and should present the information in a way that is interesting to everyone. We are open to any creative approach as long as it meets the relevant learning objectives needed for
the WJEC's specification for GCSE History and is suitable for the KS4 target audience.
Look and feel Each animation should provide an engaging and succinct explanation of the content and be
appropriate for 14-16 year olds. There may be options for using graphics creatively or other effects
to underline learning points. We are looking for something different which is unique to Bitesize.
We would like to focus on topics that students find difficult to engage with or visualise, with the hope of making them more interesting and understandable. Many of our chosen topics cover
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complex or abstract processes that benefit from visualisation through animation, graphics, or overlays. However, we are also keen for presentation to be energetic and relatable where possible, and for real-world application (if appropriate) to be considered. Humour is welcome, along with quirks to help details “stick in their heads” – but at the same time not overly silly or patronising.
WJEC GCSE History The newly revised qualification for GCSE History from the WJEC provides opportunities for candidates to follow a course that features in depth studies and thematic studies. It gives learners the chance to study specific aspects of the past in depth (short term), and breadth (medium and long term). The WJEC's revised GCSE History qualification encourages learners to develop and extend their knowledge and understanding of specific historical events, periods and societies. Learners must develop and extend their knowledge and understanding of Welsh history and the Welsh perspective in history. They will study history in a variety of geographical contexts: local, British and European and/or wider world settings. When complete, the videos will sit within the WJEC GCSE History resource, which will exist on the BBC Bitesize website as one series of English-language study guides and one series of Welsh-language study guides, including:
webpages with text summaries, archive videos, infographics and images (revision chapters)
10-question multiple choice quizzes (test chapters)
Requirements 9 short-form animations (of various lengths), approximately 30'00” in total for English language
content, with c. 30'00" identical versions being produced in Welsh, covering various aspects of the
WJEC's GCSE History course. Animations will be delivered in both English and Welsh.
Each animation will focus on important aspects covered in the WJEC's GCSE History qualification
which students often struggle with understanding and teachers find hard to explain.
To allow you to work up your summary creative solutions in relation to this commission, we have
provided further information on the full suite of animations here:
Topic Animation / Duration
Learning outcomes Students will gain knowledge in order to understand, describe, explain and analyse
Changes in Crime and Punishment, c.1500 to the present day
Causes and nature of crimes 3.5 mins
• What have been the main causes of crime over time? • How has the nature of criminal activity differed and changed over time?
Changes in Crime Combatting crime and • How has the responsibility of enforcing law and
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When appropriate, there should be a good balance/mix of male and female characters and voices,
and they should reflect the diversity of the UK, including BAME and disability. We can provide more
information on the approach to diversity if needed.
Education consultant You will need to contract and work with an educational specialist/consultant who will be involved
throughout the process to ensure all learning objectives are covered and content is accurate and
relevant. All content must be passed through an Education Consultant (from initial concepts to fine
cut), and this must occur before the BBC sees the content, as all deliverables must be teacher-
accepted.
and Punishment, c.1500 to the present day
enforcing law and order 3.5 mins
order changed over time? • How effective have methods of combating crime been over time?
Changes in Crime and Punishment, c.1500 to the present day
Methods of punishment 3.5 mins
• Why have attitudes to punishment changed over time? • How have methods of punishment changed over time?
Changes in Health and Medicine, c.1340 to the present day
Overview 4 mins
• The main causes of illness and disease over time • The effectiveness of attempts to prevent, treat and cure illness and disease • Progress in advances in medical knowledge • The effectiveness of developments in patient care and public health and welfare
The development of warfare, c.1250 to the present day
Overview 4 mins
• The main causes of wars over time • Changes in methods of training and recruiting troops • How tactics and strategies changed over time • The importance of technology in changing the nature of warfare • The main developments in naval warfare over time • How the role of women in warfare changed over time
Changes in Patterns of Migration, c.1500 to the present day
Overview 4 mins
• The causes, experiences and impact of immigrants to Britain/Wales • The causes, experiences and impact of emigration from Britain/Wales • Internal migration in UK/Wales
Depression, War and Recovery
The Depression 3.5 mins
• What were the main causes of the Depression? • How were people able to cope with the challenges of the Depression years? • How effectively did Britain prepare for war?
Depression, War and Recovery
Wartime 2 mins
• How did people in Britain cope with the experience of war? • How important was it to maintain people's morale during the war?
Depression, War and Recovery
Life after war 2 mins
• How difficult were conditions in Britain in 1945? • How did the Labour government deal with the problems of the time?
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The education consultant must also be able to advise on the Welsh language versions from the
outset in order to ensure that terminology is current and coherent. Alternatively, two consultants
can also be used – one for the English versions and one for the Welsh versions but both consultants
must work collaboratively to avoid the English and Welsh animations going in different directions. It
is also good practice as they can crosscheck as they work alongside each other.
When we sign off all the scripts, we are aware that things might change during the animation
process. We are happy to be flexible about this, as long as all changes are passed through the
Education Consultant, and are changed in the transcripts etc, so the post-production paperwork is
up to date.
Outline of work 9 short-form animations in English of lengths varying between 02'00" minutes and 04’00
minutes (see ‘Requirements’) to be published on bbc.co.uk
9 short-form animations in Welsh of lengths varying between 02'00" minutes and 04’00 minutes (see ‘Requirements’) to be published on bbc.co.uk
Animations should be linear - interactivity is out of scope for this commission.
Animations should include voiceover, music, sound effects where appropriate.
In the main, the aim of the animations is to deliver a variety of History content in a way that is easily comprehensible for our audience, covering the key points of the curriculum.
Animation content should be engaging and informative. The content should present the key points using a practical approach. We are open to all fresh, creative ideas.
Please note that although Bitesize now incorporates video and animation clips for use in class by teachers, this commission is part of our student-facing content and will sit within our study guides.
General points All animation content should use the learning outcomes provided by Bitesize as the basis for
their scripts.
The animations should encourage multiple viewings and sharing with friends.
Each animation should stand alone in its own right as an engaging piece of content but also should feel part of a connected suite to complement the associated revision guides.
Animation content typically remains live on Bitesize for at least four to five years, so topical references should be avoided to ensure that the content does not date too quickly.
Bitesize will require final sign-off on voices and on-screen talent.
Where used, music should be production/mood music rather than commercial.
Submitted proposals should not be longer than 15 pages in length.
Concepts, storyboards and scripts The company awarded the contract will produce initial concepts, storyboards and scripts for each of the 9 animations produced. Bitesize requires full consultation during the scripting process, including the viewing of drafts to ensure the scripts hit the learning outcomes, and full sign-off on completed scripts. Bitesize will provide the learning points required on which to base the scripts. Before anything else, concepts must be provided and signed off by the BBC prior to commencing scripting work.
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About this commission The overall tone should be informal, chatty and appealing to the audience.
It is vital that the content feels part of the students’ world – the subject area can seem daunting so using easily-accessible examples should pique their interest.
Content should feel confident and assured, but not teacher-like. It should feel friendly and informal, but not like it is ‘trying too hard’.
The delivery should be quite pacey and natural, but not so quick that it loses learners. Clarity is very important.
When appropriate, the animation content should represent the diversity of the Bitesize audience. For example, approximately 25% of school children today identify themselves as not being White British – we celebrate diversity in all its forms.
Subtitles in English / Welsh will be required - as per the BBC guidelines - http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/futuremedia/accessibility/subtitling.shtml
All scripts will be delivered in both English and Welsh. The overall budget for the commission should
include any consultant fees.
Diversity BBC Learning is committed to representing the diversity of our audience.
User-testing Companies should user-test content to ensure suitability for the audience and it must be built into the schedule. The BBC will also aim to user-test content.
Deliverables Final animations in electronic format (a technical specification will be provided), both
compressed and uncompressed. Uncompressed audio provided in multiple channels.
XML transcripts for subtitles (template will be provided).
Post-production paperwork (template will be provided). All content should be cleared for all rights in perpetuity. Any exceptions to this must be agreed with BBC in advance of inclusion. This commission will be based on a framework 2 contract. This link provides further information: http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/online/articles/how-we-work#framework *For more detail, see Appendix Item A: Video spec for delivery
Out of scope Interactivity within the animations is out of scope.
The process Companies are invited to submit a creative proposal. Your proposal should include:
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Storyboards/creative approach For this proposal we expect a proposed treatment and/or a first draft script for one sample animation – Causes and nature of crimes.
Tell us what your overall creative approach will be for this content and you must include reference to any expert consultants you’ll use.
Project team Please define your project team within your response – including an indication of core staff members and freelance support. Please include details on the skills and experience of the key members of your project team. We would like to see evidence of your capacity to deliver this content. Please outline any talent, including writer, director and subject matter experts/consultants. Please
allow time in your schedule for BBC reviews.
Indicative budget Within your indicative budget, you will need to make allowances for all production and content costs.
Production schedule Please provide a top-level schedule of major milestones/project management approach. Note: A project management system will be required (i.e. Trello, Slack, Basecamp or other tool) to manage the production of the content and to allow the BBC to track the project’s progress and record feedback. Please ensure that the project management system chosen is accessible post project so that we can run a debrief and reference any particular parts of the project easily.
Proposal deliverable list Summary creative solutions for the animation listed
Project overview/storyline
Company overview
Resourcing
Budget
Technical/ production/project management approach
Schedule
Topic Animation / Duration
Learning outcomes Students will gain knowledge in order to understand, describe, explain and analyse
Changes in Crime and Punishment, c.1500 to the present day
Causes and nature of crimes 3.5 mins
• What have been the main causes of crime over time? • How has the nature of criminal activity differed and changed over time?
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Working with the BBC There will be a minimum of two face-to-face meetings during production (this does not include the project initiation meeting). In addition, we require a weekly content report/update (via phone or teleconference). Two of these face-to-face meetings will be with the production team in Cardiff – so your travel expenses should be considered within your budgeting.
Project Initiation Meeting – This first meeting will be a chance to meet the production team (location to be confirmed). We will discuss the editorial scope of the project, confirm the timeline for delivery and hear content plans and ideas.
Meeting #1 – This meeting will take place at the mid-point of the pre-production process and will focus on the following:
o proposed video content (scripts, storyboards, talent, style and tone) o production schedule/milestones o formal input from the Education Consultant and user testing
Meeting #2 – This meeting will be scheduled for the mid-point of the production process and will assess content produced to date and next steps including:
o production schedule/milestones o formal feedback from the Education Consultant and user testing
Company and project team profile We want to hear from companies who are passionate about learning and enthusiastic about creating content for one of the BBC’s most successful online brands. Audience awareness will also be key; do you know this audience and their needs? Have you produced content for them before? Can you produce content that will resonate with them?
Links to relevant portfolio examples Please send links to content you have produced which you think are relevant to this commission.
Budget The maximum budget for this content is £85,000. Please provide a budget breakdown to show how
you intend to cost the project.
Payment schedule to be agreed upon award of contract. Typical payment might be:
25% on signature of contract
15% on script sign off
40% on all rough cuts
20% on full delivery, including final paperwork
Working together
Who’s responsible for what? Supplier
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You will be responsible for:
project management and production of deliverables to agreed deadline and budget
producing an editorial specification of the project
chairing regular production meetings and communicating project plans and status
quality assurance of content (in cooperation with the educational consultant)
user testing
post-production paperwork to be completed in format supplied by BBC (WebasC)
BBC
We will be responsible for:
providing all learning objectives for each topic area
sharing project documentation from the wider suite of BBC Bitesize content as well as other
content relating to each topic i.e. revision notes and tests
collaboration throughout the production and delivery
sign-off on the following: storylines/initial concepts, look and feel, scripts, essential cast
members, voice-casting, music, sounds effects, rough-cuts (animatics) and final animation
delivery – within an agreed timeframe
We will be jointly responsible for:
ensuring the learning outcomes are met
ensuring that content is best-fit for the Bitesize audience
The BBC Learning team
Nia M Davies – Executive producer, Bitesize
Angharad Rhys – Senior producer, Bitesize
Anwen Jones – Producer, Bitesize
Schedule/project management Although key points such as casting, script sign-off points etc will be identified on the Editorial
Specification, all Bitesize production follows an iterative development process and we will feed back as soon as possible on all editorial decisions.
Final delivery for the project is 25 January 2018.
This project is highly dependent on specific delivery dates that will be defined in the contract. As
such we would like you to give particular attention to clause 9 in our standard terms which states
the following:
If you fail or are due to fail to deliver a Deliverable (or any part thereof) due at any stage specified in
Schedule 2 for any reason not directly and solely attributable to the BBC, the BBC shall (without
prejudice to any other rights or remedies available to the BBC under this Agreement or at law) be
entitled to terminate this Agreement.
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Should this situation arise and the BBC is forced to terminate, the BBC would only be liable to you for
anything delivered prior to termination. For this reason we would ask that you give timeframes and
delivery the highest priority.
The pitching process Shortlisted companies will be invited to a face-to-face pitch at Broadcasting House, Cardiff on 13
September 2017.
Experience in GCSE level History is not a prerequisite (although clearly would be useful) – what
we’re looking for are creative and engaging solutions to bridging knowledge gaps.
Learning experience is not a prerequisite, but a thorough understanding of the needs of the
Bitesize audience, and a clear approach to addressing those needs, are expected.
Companies should have experience delivering engaging content for teens, ideally including
short-form content.
Key dates Deadline for submissions, pitch deliverables and selection requirements are outlined below:
Commissioning brief published 3 August 2017
Deadline for proposal submissions 12noon, 29 August 2017
Face-to-face pitch to BBC 13 September 2017
Notification of contract award 15 September 2017
Project initiation meeting 21 September 2017
Final delivery of commission 25 January 2018
These dates are indicative and they may be amended during the process to allow for sufficient time
to undertake each phase of the exercise.
Selection The BBC will use the following standard criteria to evaluate the pitches submitted:
quality of the idea proposed – originality / suitability for Bitesize audience
ability to meet editorial requirements
pricing / value for money
project management / production plan (schedule and budget)
core staff experience
prior experience of company
presentation of response
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Any queries on this commission should be emailed to Anwen Jones ([email protected]) and
Angharad Rhys ([email protected]).
Next steps Please submit proposals by 12noon on 29th August 2017 to:
Anwen Jones, Producer, Bitesize - [email protected]
Angharad Rhys, Senior Producer, Bitesize - [email protected]
Nia M Davies, Executive Producer - [email protected]
Please use Submitted Proposal: GCSE HISTORY as the subject line.
Proposals should be provided as either MS Word documents or PDFs. They should be a maximum of
15 pages long.
This is an open brief published on the BBC Learning Commissioning website.
Please note that this document is for information purposes only and does not form part of a
contractual agreement with the BBC.
This is a stand-alone new media commission and the BBC will require all rights in the content,
worldwide and on all platforms. The commission will be contracted using the BBC’s New Media
Rights Framework 2 agreement. Further information on the BBC New Media Frameworks can
befound here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/technology-online/how-we-
work/newmediarights-framework.shtml
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Appendix A
Video spec for delivery
VIDEO
Deliver on a hard drive (exFAT) two formats of each video (one compressed and one uncompressed).
Compressed:
Container format: .mp4 or .mov
Maximum file size, 50GB
Video Codec: H.264 / QuickTime
If your system gives you the option to choose between baseline, main and high profile for H264
export, high is preferred.
Frame size: 1920 x 1080
Frames per second: 25 (progressive scan)
Bit rate/ Quality: Constant/100%
Audio
Codec: AAC
Channels: Stereo
Bit rate: 320 kbps
Sample rate: 48 KHz
Sample depth: 16 bit
For online there is no set level – if it is consistent and you can hear the voice over the music mix and
it is not too low or distorted, it is fine.
Uncompressed:
Deliver an uncompressed version on separate channels.
This can be the source files used within the editing system, with Video, Voice, Music, SFX and
Graphics on separate channels.
Graphics must be rendered on separate channel for translation.
Video Codec is AVC Intra Class 100. Premiere and FCP you can use the DPP AS-11 HD export
setting.
If delivering animation, use the uncompressed Animation Codec.
H264 source footage from DSLRs is acceptable.
Please refer to this link for output https://www.digitalproductionpartnership.co.uk/what-
wedo/technical-standards/programme-delivery-standards/
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MUSIC
Commercial music should only be used in the videos if there is an editorial reason to do so and this
needs to be agreed with the BBC prior to inclusion. BBC Bitesize Commissioning Brief – Geography
SUBTITLES
To deliver an XML for subtitles for each video (English SDH)
Using a form of XML called TTML EBU-TT-D (Time Text Markup Languages)
Section 26 - http://bbc.github.io/subtitle-guidelines/
For file format please refer to this link http://bbc.github.io/subtitle-guidelines/ from section 23.
There are other useful guides in this file but a basic style guide and example will be supplied later.
DOCUMENTATION
The following Post Production Documentation must be completed on the following templates and
returned as complete within seven days of the delivery date:
Metadata for each video written by a teacher/educational consultant in both English and
Welsh
2 x post production transcript for each piece of video (English and Welsh) – one timecoded
and one without timecode