The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said that Warp Films’ hit drama Adolescence for Netflix “hit home hard.”
Netflix is now making its four-part series Adolescence available to all secondary schools across the UK through Into Film+.
Adolescence is produced by Warp Films, Matriarch Productions and Plan B Entertainment. The UK series continues to break records, reaching number one in 80 countries around the world. It is the first streaming show ever to top the UK TV ratings (BARB).
Healthy relationships charity Tender will produce guides and resources for teachers, parents and carers to help navigate conversations around the series.
Anne Mensah, Netflix VP UK Content, said: “Adolescence has captured the national mood, sparking important conversations and helping articulate the pressures young people and parents face in today’s society.
“We’re incredibly proud of the impact the show has made, and are delighted to be able to offer it to all schools across the UK through Into Film+. As part of this, healthy relationships charity Tender will create resources for teachers and parents to help them navigate the important topics the show explores.”
The announcement follows a roundtable discussion convened by the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, with representatives from charities working to support the health and mental well-being of young people. Charities in attendance included Tender, NSPCC, and The Children’s Society as well as Adolescence co-creator Jack Thorne and producers Emma Feller and Jo Johnson.
Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer said: “As a father, watching this show with my teenage son and daughter, I can tell you – it hit home hard.
“It’s an important initiative to encourage as many pupils as possible to watch the show. As I see from my own children, openly talking about changes in how they communicate, the content they’re seeing, and exploring the conversations they’re having with their peers is vital if we are to properly support them in navigating contemporary challenges, and deal with malign influences.
“This isn’t a challenge politicians can simply legislate for. Believe me, if I could pull a lever to solve it, I would. Only by listening and learning from the experiences of young people and charities can we tackle the issues this groundbreaking show raises.”
Jack Thorne, Adolescence Co-Writer, said: “We made this show to provoke a conversation. We wanted to pose the question – how do we help stop this growing crisis. So to have the opportunity to take this into schools is beyond our expectations. We hope it’ll lead to teachers talking to the students, but what we really hope is it’ll lead to students talking amongst themselves.”
Fiona Evans, CEO of Into Film, said: “Into Film is proud to be partnering with Netflix to make Adolescence available for teachers to use in schools, via our established schools streaming service, Into Film +. We are sure that schools will choose to use this incredible drama in a variety of ways that will encourage teachers, students and parents to continue the important conversations that the drama has already prompted in homes across the UK.”
Susie McDonald MBE, CEO of Tender, said: “Adolescence might be fiction, but it tells a very real story. As specialists in relationships education, Tender is committed to supporting schools, young people and parents/carers with the resources to continue this vital conversation. Together, we can help build a more positive, safe future for the next generation.”
Pippa Considine
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