RTÃÂ's Home School Hub, or simply Home School Hub, and its companion show Home School Extra, was an educational television programme which was created in response to the closure of all schools during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland in 2020. Announced on 21 March, it began broadcasting on RTÃÂ2 on 30 March, aimed at children attending 1stâÂÂ6th class of primary school (i.e. roughly 6/7âÂÂ12/13 years of age). The first series ended on 19 June. A new series After School Hub began on 11 October, broadcasting in the afternoon to cater for children whose parents are working from home. The series finished on 19 March 2021.
The hour-long main show, broadcast Monday-Friday at 11am, typically consisted of three lessons, one from each of the main presenters, (qualified teachers Múinteoirs ClÃÂona, Ray and John). As is standard for primary school education in Ireland, the teachers gave their lessons bilingually through English and Irish. In place of commercial breaks, the programme has smaller inserts from RTÃÂ-produced/commissioned educational programmes such as The Body Brothers, I'm an Animal, Pink Kong Studios' Urban Tails and Colm Tobin's Brain Freeze. Comic book artist Will Sliney also presents short drawing lessons in the "We Will Draw" segment.
A 15-minute-long compilation of material submitted by viewers relating to the content of recent shows, Home School Extra, narrated by Múinteoir Ray, was shown after the main show, and repeated at 4.15pm.
Irish Sign Language signed version of a previous main show has broadcast at 1pm from April to July.
Cuddihy and Sharpson had previously worked together for their YouTube channel "Sharuf!", which features sketches, interviews and puppetry.
Smaller segments were presented by:
Guests on the show included:
The show was produced by Dublin-Based Television and Film production company, Macalla Teoranta and shot in Scoil Lorcáin, a national school in Monkstown, Dublin.
TG4, Ireland's Irish language television service launched its equivalent show Cúla4 Ar Scoil ("Cúla 4 at School") in April 2020. It was recorded in Connemara, with teachers Caitriona NàChualain and Fiachra O Dubhghaill. The service continued in September for the new school year, with NàChualáin, Orla NàFhinneadha, Micheál àDubhghaill, SÃÂle NàChonghaile, CaitrÃÂona McAtee and Joe àhEachtairn, though most schools had returned to operation.