Channel 4 is to remove schools programming from its linear TV channel early next year in favour of running special online projects.

According to The Guardian, Channel 4 will dedicate its £6m educational programming budget to running interactive stories in conjunction with social networking sites.

"It was very clear that we had to do something because at the moment what we do is spend £6m commissioning TV programmes aimed at 14- to 19-year-olds and then put them out in the morning when they're at school," Channel 4 managing editor Janey Walker told the paper.

Among the shows to be commissioned for online will be a MySpace-powered Get a Life, in which 21 participants aim to achieve personal goals; City of Vice, an online game based in Georgian London, and Insiders, in which real contributors offer careers advice through blogs.