Student takes over BBC website

I think that it's a great opportunity for kids to get a taster Shaniqua, 12

School Report handed over control of its website to a teenager on Friday, as children across England took on adults' roles.

Shaniqua, 12, from Central Foundation Girls' School in East London, became the web producer for this site during Takeover Day, an initiative overseen by 11 Million, the office led by the Children's Commissioner for England, Sir Al Aynsley-Green.

Read Shaniqua's report

The aim of Takeover Day is to give young people the chance to shape the future, as children take on challenges, and adults take on board their recommendations.

A range of people and organisations took part, including Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families.

Charlotte, 17, was chosen to take over his ministerial duties after winning an anti-bullying award for her work in North Lincolnshire.

Her insights were broadcast on PM on Radio 4 and published on the programme's blog.

Sir Al Aynsley-Green himself made way for two 17-year-olds, Arran and Ginisha, from the young people's journalism charity Headliners.

He said: "There's so much demonisation of children and young people in our society, but this is a fantastic opportunity for their talents to be recognised and celebrated."

Children logging onto the Newsround website can send in their questions for the children's commissioner, who will answer some of them on the site.

Takeover Day

By Shaniqua, 12
Central Foundation Girls School, east London

I took part in Takeover Day by being the School Report web producer for the day.

I did all the jobs that they would normally do, including writing this report and briefing a group of teachers.

At my school, Central Foundation Girls School in east London, teachers from around the country gathered to make news reports, just like their students will do on 13 March, which is School Report News Day.

My first task of the day was to decide on the questions I was going to ask them. It made me feel more relaxed to write them down so I was not stuck for words.

John Westwood is the head of digital communications at Mayfield School in Redbridge. He said: "It's important to experience what the students will be doing. In my 32 years of teaching, I have never asked any of my students to do something I'd never done before - it would not be fair."

Peter Milwright, from the English department of Claydon High School in Suffolk, said: "Making the news today will help me run the school newspaper and it will be useful for lessons as well."

Adam Lucas is an Advanced Skills Teacher in English and media studies at Henry Beaufort School in Winchester. His report was about Takeover Day. He said: "Having two people in front of me who were taking part, and who could talk knowledgeably about it, was too good an opportunity to miss."

As well as being a web producer, I represented the whole of Year 8, who were the audience for the teachers' news reports.

While researching their news topics, they asked me about events going on at school and what things interest me.

Thinking about what stories are interesting for adults and children will help me when it comes to making the news for real on 13 March.

I also stood up in front of a group of teachers and explained how they could improve their presenting. At first I was a bit nervous, but I used my acting skills to make my talk more lively.

I was also interviewed and filmed by some of the teachers about my day.

Overall it was pretty tiring, but I really enjoyed interviewing, taking photographs, writing this report and seeing it on the School Report website.

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