BBC Bitesize: People Around Us - Everything you need to know

BBC Bitesize: People Around Us is a new fun and engaging initiative for primary school teachers and their pupils aged 7-11.

It has been designed to support the delivery of the new statutory guidance of the PSHE and RSE curriculum that was introduced in England in September 2026.

Not all young people are equipped with the skills and information to evaluate what healthy, positive relationships are. This can leave them vulnerable to negative influences and unhealthy relationships in the future.

Bitesize: People Around Us helps pupils understand what healthy relationships look like and how to identify positive role models. It encourages pupils to think critically about the people around them and provides them with the tools to reflect on their own thoughts, behaviours and actions.

Bitesize: People Around Us includes flexible resources which can be used within PSHE lessons, as conversation starters, or to refresh learning after a topical or in-school incident.

Meet M8-E and friends - Milo, Tanvi, Zayn, Joshua and Emma!

Thrown out of a robotics factory for wanting to make friends rather than complete boring tasks, M8-E is rescued by Milo and has started a new life at school. M8-E is keen to learn about human relationships and understand what being a role model means.

Everyone in the friendship group has something new to learn, including how to recognise healthy and unhealthy relationships, what it means to be a good friend, managing conflict and identifying traits of positive role models.

These films are designed to engage pupils within the classroom and show realistic situations they may encounter in their daily lives.

Each film is accompanied by a teacher guide, which includes discussion-based and practical activities to get pupils thinking critically about the key themes of each film. These short activities can be embedded into PSHE lessons or used to add moments of reflection throughout the school day.

We know that classroom discussions about healthy relationships and positive role models can be daunting for some.

If you have concerns about navigating these subjects in the classroom, further guidance on teaching healthy relationships and positive role models is available on the teacher guidance page. These resources offer practical tips and strategies for creating a safe and supportive teaching and learning environment in which to discuss complex or sensitive issues.

Each of the resource videos is also featured in a corresponding Bitesize Parenting article. These articles feature expert-led guidance on navigating sensitive discussions with children, including how to establish and maintain positive relationships and encourage positive role-model behaviour.

With complementary themes and language to the classroom resources, parents, guardians and carers can use the expert guidance to continue these important conversations at home. Teachers could also share these articles with parents after using the resources, so they can support their children with any questions that the in-class discussions may bring up.

Additional content will be added to the Bitesize: People Around Us pages throughout the academic year, including a downloadable classroom pack, coming in February 2027.

To keep up to date with the latest Bitesize: People Around Us updates, as well as news from across BBC Bitesize to help you plan and make the most of what the BBC has to offer your class or school, sign up to the Bitesize for Teachers email.