Back to school for School Report

Watch out for the trail on BBC TV

At the start of the academic year, 11 to 14 year-olds across the UK are beginning their journalistic journey to make and broadcast the news for real, as they take part in School Report.

They are preparing for the UK-wide News Day on 11 March 2010, when all participating schools turn their classrooms into newsrooms and work to a deadline to create and publish their reports on their schools' websites, to which the BBC link.

Hundreds of schools are involved in this year's project and in many, students are learning from BBC presenter Huw Edwards through his video tips which are embedded within the six School Report lessons.

The School Report team are busy too, sending packs out to teachers and replying to schools who have registered to take part.

Bigger and better

Last year over 25,000 students took part in School Report and this year "it'll be even bigger and better," said School Report editor Helen Shreeve, who collected a Royal Television Society Award for the project in June. It's a "fantastic tribute to pupils' and teachers' dedication, hard work and creative energy," she said.

During an independent evaluation of the project, researchers from the Department of Educational Research at Lancaster University, found "widespread agreement" about the worth of the initiative among teachers and students.

What's new?

TUNE IN, LOG IN, DOWNLOAD On the World Class website and available between 1300 and 1700 GMT on the Newsround website. Accompanying scripts on the World Class website Free podcast to download An example of School Reporters on the bulletin

This year, School Reporters have the opportunity to feature on the BBC World News for Children bulletin, which is broadcast Monday to Friday. Students at a number of schools will be asked to give their their opinions on a topic in the news and their voices will be recorded down the phone line and used in the bulletin.

Schools with international links have the opportunity to be involved with a BBC initiative to reveal the obstacles which children and their families have to overcome to learn. Hunger to Learn week begins on Monday 12 October.

News Day 2009

During last year's News Day, students from 514 schools met their News Day deadline, "broadcasting" reports on a range of topics including Sats tests, cervical cancer, green issues and the credit crunch.

Young journalists quizzed politicians, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown, leaders David Cameron, Nick Clegg and First Ministers Alex Salmond and Peter Robinson. School Secretary Ed Balls, rap artist Tintchy Stryder, and Olympians Sir Chris Hoy and Dame Kelly Holmes, were also in the hot seat.

As well as being linked to from the School Report website, students' reports were also showcased on BBC TV News programmes including Breakfast News, the News Channel, the One O'Clock, Six O'clock and Ten O'Clock News, Working Lunch, World News Hour and CBBC Newsround. On the radio, School Report was featured on The World at One, PM, Asian Network and on World Have Your Say, where a live two-hour discussion programme linked schools in London, Johannesburg, Budapest and the Netherlands. School Reporters also appeared on Teachers TV .

Start reporting now

PRACTICE NEWS DAYS 19 November 10 December 14 January 4 February Example of a Practice News Day

But it's not just during News Day when School Reporters will once again feature on BBC News programmes. For example, on October 30, School Reporters will make their own version of Radio 4's political programme Today in Parliament. They will be interviewing members of the UK Youth Parliament, who represent the views of young people in their constituency, as they debate in the House of Commons. It is the first time in history that non-MPs have been allowed to sit in the chamber. The three issues they will examine are being chosen by members of the public and there is still time to vote online for the topic you would like to see aired, by visiting the UK Youth Parliament website, see link on the right. School Reporters will be featured on other BBC programmes throughout the year.

There is no need to wait for News Day, to start reporting. As long as the paperwork is in place, students' can gain a real audience for their work today, via a link from the School Report website.

Practice News Days are a good opportunity to kick-start the reporting and organise a dress rehearsal for the UK-wide News Day in March. They are all on a Thursday; on 19 November, 10 December, 14 January and 4 February.

Older students take part

Although School Report showcases the news created by 11 to 14 year-olds, older students can take part in the project by mentoring their peers. This is the fourth year of School Report and many students who have taken part in previous years, but are now older than 14, will have gained skills which they can pass onto younger pupils.