School Report Awards Day

Words by Benedict and Eleanor, photos by Kulsum
School Reporters, Mayfield School, Essex

Vilija and Eleanor proudly display their certificate signed by Huw Edwards

Every March, School Reporters from hundreds of schools all over the United Kingdom show their skills in producing the news for a day.

Of the thousands of young people who participate, student reporters from about two dozen schools are then invited to attend the BBC Television Centre in London for an award ceremony celebrating their achievements.

Helen Shreeve, editor of School Report said: "My favourite part of the project is when I get to meet School Reporters and they tell me about the stories they've covered and what it meant to them to do it. It makes me very proud."

Each school at the ceremony receives a "highly commended" certificate and a free tour of Television Centre.

During the ceremony, groups of students gather at their tables and television screens show extracts of their work.

The excitement levels grow in anticipation of the presentations by senior BBC managers and presenters such as Newsround's Adam Fleming, who commented: "It's great to see the students having fun, but learning so much at the same time."

If you've been inspired by School Report, the thing to do isn't to just stop, but to carry it on, maybe set up a school newspaper or TV channel Jake Humphrey

At one past award ceremony, Vilija asked Newsround and Football Focus presenter Jake Humphrey what he would have enjoyed had he taken part in School Report when he was younger.

He replied: "Using the TV cameras would have been fun. Chatting to a lot of the students here today, that's what they have enjoyed."

New experience

Jackie Anthony, Humanities co-ordinator for the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust said of School Report: "I think it's a terrific programme, because it helps students in schools learn about what kind of jobs are out there. And they learn important things, like deadlines."

We decided to ask other schools a few questions to see what they enjoyed about completing School Report. First we spoke to five of the 15 children from Chigwell School from Essex who took part on News Day. They enjoyed the new experience and the chance to work with lots of people with whom they wouldn't normally have worked.

Vilija interviews students from eight of the 26 schools at the Awards Day

Next we spoke to Caedmon School, who had travelled all the way from Yorkshire. They said they enjoyed presenting but that it was also one of the challenges they faced. They told us that 30 pupils took part but that when they do it next year, they are hoping for a larger media department. Josh said: "Presenting was quite hard, but we're going to do it again next year - on a bigger scale."

Hornsey School for Girls, where 20 students had taken part in School Report, said their favourite aspect of the News Day was the end feeling of achievement. Students said their biggest challenge was reaching the deadline and added that they would like better technology next year.

Looking to expand

Three pupils from the 20 who took part at Desborough School in Berkshire said their favourite parts of the day - apart from playing with the cameras - were "The times when the teachers stopped shouting".

At Marden High School in Tyne and Wear, 12 children took part in the BBC project. They agreed that filming was the most enjoyable part of the day and that editing was the most challenging. Going forward, they hope to expand the number of students taking part.

Haggerston School from London said that the 30 pupils who had taken part found the filming and editing the most enjoyable, and getting ready the deadline the most difficult.

We also caught up with Horizon School from London, a special needs school where 10 students took part on the News Day. They put together a new story called "What makes people happy?" One student said their favourite part of the day was the acting they did to try and make people laugh. Both of the adults who helped said the most challenging parts of the day involved interviewing, editing and trying to use the technology. Next year they hope to work with a wider range of students around the school.

This is Kulsum, Eleanor, Vilija, Abdul and Benedict reporting for BBC News School Report

Finally we spoke to Rainham School for Girls from Kent. Students said their favourite part of the School Report was filming but that they found it hard when the cameras stopped working. Fifty students took part on the News Day and they are already talking about the interesting people they might try to interview next year.

Of all the schools at Television Centre, we only had time to speak to eight of them, but it seems that even though there were many challenges faced on the way, all of them found BBC News School Report a fun and interesting experience.