Hundreds of schools make the news

The School Report initiative, which has this year involved more than 10,000 students, culminates in a News Day on 13 March, when schools from Cornwall to Orkney work to a 1400 GMT news deadline.

The aim of the BBC News project is to interest students in current affairs and news by helping them set their own editorial agenda for a real audience.

Emulating professional journalists, participating 11 to 14-year-olds from over 250 schools are covering breaking news stories and broadcasting prepared reports on a range of topics including mobile phones, anti-social behaviour and body image.

On the spot

Students from nine schools are holding politicians to account, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Conservative leader David Cameron, Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrat Party, Northern Ireland's First Minister Ian Paisley, Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond and Presiding Officer of the National Assembly of Wales, Dafydd Elis Thomas.

Hollywood actor Dustin Hoffman, artists Rolf Harris and Dinos Chapman, and author Nick Hornby are among the celebrities who have already given interviews.

Sport is high on the news agenda and Lord Coe, who chaired the successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and Minister for the Olympics Tessa Jowell both spoke to School Reporters.

One group of students met the England women's cricket captain Charlotte Edwards, while another is investigating the sporting pay scale for male and female athletes.

FIND YOUR SCHOOL

Map of participating schools
One school's final rehearsal

As well as meeting the 1400 GMT news deadline, schools are committed to publishing reports on their school websites by 1600 GMT. An interactive map on the School Report website links to school sites, generating a UK-wide audience for students' work.

In addition, BBC news programmes and websites across the UK are featuring School Reporters and their work.

From 0900 GMT, a dedicated TV channel and radio station, which can be accessed from the School Report website and the red button service, is being streamed and the highlights of both day-long programmes will be available during the evening.

Behind-the-scenes footage of School Report in Northern Ireland will also be available on the red button service after 1830 GMT.

Professional help

In order to prepare for the News Day, School Reporters spent time in the classroom learning the tricks of the trade with the help of free resources, aligned to educational curricula, including video tips from news presenter Huw Edwards.

The former teacher visited Charles Edward Brookes School in Brixton, south London on 4 March.

He said: "The great thing about this year's School Report is that there's a real sense of growth, and a real sense of energy. For me, School Report fits perfectly with what I think we, the BBC, should be doing."

The 10 O'clock newsreader is just one of over 200 BBC journalists who have been mentoring students throughout the project.

Teacher David Whitehouse at Hillview School for Girls in Tonbridge said: "Having a professional journalist supporting the students has given them even more enthusiasm and motivation."

March 13 is the second annual School Report News Day. In its pilot year, 120 schools and more than 3,000 students took part in the project.

Following last year's News Day, one student commented: "I feel most proud of being part of a broadcast which will be shown live across the country - I can't explain it well in words, but it just makes you swell with pride and feel like you've accomplished something special."

Schools wishing to participate in School Report 2008/9 can register on the School Report website.