THE BBC are putting the spotlight on a school in Penarth, and it airs tonight, January 16.

Ysgol y Deri will be the home of the brand-new BBC One Wales series A Special School, which premiers on BBC One Wales at 8.30pm.

In 2019, cameras first captured the reality of life in Ysgol y Deri - Britain’s biggest special education school and in September 2021, the cameras returned with headteacher Chris Britten looking forward to the start of a new school year, and recalling the pressures the pandemic put on the staff.

The show begins the BBC’s new commitment to disability on and off screen, with twelve months of programmes, initiatives and content designed to inspire conversations about disability across Wales.

Launched by Rhuanedd Richards, Director BBC Cymru Wales, Rhuanedd said the BBC were determined to represent all demographics of the community.

“One of the things I’m most passionate about is ensuring BBC Wales’s content and its workforce is representative of the audiences we serve,” said Rhuanedd.

“As an industry, we’ve got more to do when it comes to reflecting audiences with disability, that’s why we’re launching this new commitment to increase the representation of disabled people on and off our screens, and ensure that BBC Wales is an attractive and inclusive career option for people with disabilities.

“It’s an exciting development and one which I hope will spark conversation and dialogue as well as brilliant programmes and content.”

With 27 per cent of the Welsh population identifying as disabled, five per cent higher than the UK average, BBC Cymru Wales is adopting the new commitment in a bid to ensure its content and workforce reflect the population.

The specific commitment to audiences in Wales follows a BBC-wide commitment announced in December 2022, on United Nations International Day of Disabled Persons.

Penarth Times:

(BBC show focussing on Penarth School premiers tonight, January 16)

Headmaster of Ysgol y Deri, Chris Britten, said the school was a “remarkable” place for all involved there.

“I’m looking forward to everyone seeing what happened when we welcomed the cameras back for a brand-new series of A Special School, a true celebration of the children and the staff here at Ysgol y Deri,” said Chris.

“I’m excited that audiences will once again experience the remarkable spirit of the school that provides a place for fun, laughter and achievement to pupils who are differently able.”

For more information, visit bbc.co.uk/talkdisability.