Place2Be and Young BAFTA kick off tenth-year partnership in Newham

18 March 2026

Place2Be and BAFTA, began the 2026 Young BAFTA Roadshow with Place2Be today with a visit to Portway Primary School in Newham. The visit was hosted by Kia Pegg (Tracey Beaker Returns, The Dumping Ground and Saturday Mash-Up!) and David Ribi (from Milkshake! and CBeebies).

Young BAFTA Roadshow with Place2Be at Newham

Now in its tenth year, the collaboration brings screen industry role models into primary schools to inspire pupils, nurture confidence and communication skills, and broaden awareness of the many careers behind film, television and games.

The partnership focuses on underrepresented communities across the UK, combining Place2Be’s Whole School Approach to emotional wellbeing and self belief with BAFTA’s access to talents from across the screen industries. Together, the organisations created a memorable day in school that celebrates creativity, encourages teamwork and helps children imagine their future in the creative world through positive interactions with relatable role models.

“The Young BAFTA Roadshow visit was an outstanding success. The content and delivery were superb, engaging both staff and pupils throughout the day. I'm sure it will leave a lasting impression on our pupils. The competitions and the presenting masterclass were brand new experiences for our pupils, helping them to develop valuable communication, teamwork and creative skills. The Young BAFTA Roadshow exceeded all expectations and has had a truly meaningful impact on our school community, developing confidence, ambition and excitement about future possibilities within the creative industries. Thank you so much!” Jalina Belle, Interim Deputy Headteacher at Portway Primary School

At Portway Primary, pupils heard real-life stories about creative career journeys and discovered the breadth of roles that bring their favourite films, games and programmes to life. The visit prioritised inclusion and aspiration and opened a window onto the creative sector while reinforcing the everyday skills – listening, speaking, collaboration and confidence – that help children thrive in and beyond the classroom.

The 2026 school line-up was selected with a clear equity focus. This year’s Roadshow series centres on supporting reach and impact, as well as prioritising schools with free school meal rates above local or national averages.

Voices from schools (2025)

“The day was truly remarkable and expertly designed to support children’s belief in themselves as unique individuals while inspiring them about opportunities in the world of film, television and game design… Being able to hold a BAFTA, meet famous faces from CBBC, get creative with friends… will definitely stay with our children for a very long time.” Zoe Mawson, Headteacher at Bradford

“The assembly was fantastic and gave children the opportunity to ask questions about how their favourite shows were produced… It has inspired some children to consider presenting as a career.” Susan Paddon, Assistant Headteacher in Enfield

Place2Be and Young BAFTA kick off tenth-year partnership in Newham

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