End Of Term For Grange Hill

The BBC is to axe Grange Hill after 30 years.

The schoolgates will close for the last time later this year.

Phil Redmond devised the series in 1978 and it went on to become a national institution.

But according to the BBC it no longer reflects the lives of schoolchildren in contemporary Britain.

CBBC controller Anne Gilchrist said: "Part of CBBC's reputation for reflecting contemporary Britain back to UK children has been built upon Phil Redmond's brilliantly realised idea and of course it's sad to say goodbye to such a much-loved institution."

"The lives of children have changed a great deal since Grange Hill began and we owe it to our audience to reflect this."

"We're actively seeking out new and exciting ways of bringing social realism to the CBBC audience through drama and other genres."

The final series will feature its youngest pupils to date, from Year 6.