This year all of the students opted to do video reports. Great! Except it did mean that their effort and determination produced no less than 30 minutes of footage. Which is why it is being uploaded to the website a little bit later than the 4pm deadline. Sorry – it really does take a long time to get 35 mins of video compressed and uploaded to the website!

Still, technically, it’s being done on the School Report Day (with less than 3 minutes to go before it’s tomorrow).

Well done to all the teams for gathering so much relevant material, and a special thanks to everyone who stayed behind to help clear up the chaos we caused by the end of the day.

Apologies for the effects of compression on the finished video, I hope it doesn’t prove too much of an irritation.

Big thanks to Tim Thomas and Johnty O’Donnell for their contributions to the day.

Enjoy…

And here’s what we did in 2012…

• Olympic Torch Relay meets World Record Relay Attempt
• BBC School Reporters On Target for Great Story

Our sixteen eager journalists took to the corridors today in search of news that young people want to hear about. Donning video cameras, microphones and tripods, the intrepid news hounds sought out the day’s views and opinions and presented some of them on a 2 pm radio broadcast.

Other VJs, or Video Journalists, captured footage that we will be editing and uploading for you to watch at a not too later date; so watch this space.

The day started with an interview for BBC Shropshire. Two of our fine reporters braved the  uncharacteristically cold fog to shiver out a few words about our good intentions for the Breakfast Show. Next, we began the news day with the all important planning meeting: roles were allocated and the best stories decided upon.

We welcomed BBC’s Faith Page and John O’Donnell to the gathering and took on board their tips for effective journalism. We also took their microphones as well, with their permission of course.

We’ve managed to cover a lot of ground today and we knew we wouldn’t be able to publish all our stories, but we did achieve our target of broadcasting live at the time we were meant to.

We’re now going to take a look at some of the reporter’s accounts of the day along with photos of the events.

First off, we’ve Beth and Courtney’s report:

Today, on the 15^th March 2012, 12 year 10 students along with 2 year 8’s, participated in BBC News School Report. This meant that we were given the task of finding various topics that interested our age groups suitable for us to report on. We reported our stories in different ways, including radio, video and written. We were able to interview various 6^th form students and were lucky enough to have the opportunity to talk to an education minister. We were also visited by 2 members of the BBC radio Shropshire team, who informed us about the different equipment that could be used during an interview. For us, it was very interesting to be able to learn about how things work off camera and we were able to give it a go ourselves by interviewing the various students and staff.

The day started with a group meeting on what we would report and how we would report it. Some people had a radio interview before the day began. After researching and planning on who we would interview it was time to go off and get what we needed.

‘My task was to take various photographs of what was going on throughout the day. We managed to capture the various interviews that were taking place as well as what was going on in the school life.’ 

‘My task was to interview people on camera, the group I was working in managed to get 3 sixth former interviews, 2 were for the Youth Speaks project and 1 who would be involved in the run up celebrations to the 2012 Games. These interviews were important to our report as it related to the Olympics. Because I wasn’t the only one in my group interviewing, we all had a chance to work a bit behind the camera’

From this experience, we got to improve our skills, as we already knew a bit about how this would work from practicing. It was a real eye-opener to exactly how much hard work goes into what you hear on the radio or see on the television.

Next up we’re hearing from Tara, Veronique and Barnaby:

We started off the day at 9:00 in the Creative & Media room. We were briefed on our tasks for the day and decided which mission we would like to pursue. At 9:15, we were joined by Faith Page and John O’Donnell who are radio reporters for BBC  Radio Shropshire. We were introduced and informed on the jobs involved with journalists and then set off with our minds full of blossoming ideas.

Barnaby, Véronique and Tom dashed off to interview Mr Braddick on the subject of whether he thinks that teenagers are stereotyped by the general public. Brogann, Beth, Oliver and Zach went off to ask the local MP on the concerns of parents and senior students about rising tuition fees.

Tara, Polly, Courtney and Lydia set off to interview Martin and Jenny (Sixth Formers) on their recent success at the Youth Speaks competition for all young speakers to enter.

We all met afterwards in the music practice rooms to create a catchy jingle for the radio show that will be playing tonight (15^th March) on BBC Shropshire Radio. So listen out! ….if you have a time machine… We had Barnaby thrashing it on the piano and Tom.O kicking it on the guitar!! And don’t forget the lead singer Tara blowing your mind backed by the amazing Véronique.

For the last hour and a half we filmed the anchor-men/ woman: Brogann and Zach as they linked all the stories together. Soon after, Faith and John left we were given more assignments to do such as uploading the footage onto the BBC website and the schools blog, my group was given the job of writing this review and now you have heard everything that we have done on our day of being BBC News School Reporters.

Lydia’s day went something like this:

This morning I did a radio broadcast for BBC Radio Shropshire with a man called Ian. We started at about 9 o’clock but before that we were talking to Ian about radio presenting. He told us that the mast, which was meters high, might not work too well because of all the fog that was around.  I was really nervous but it went quite well.

After the radio broadcast I went upstairs to the ‘Media Room’ for a briefing. We were told what we had to do, I was to be recording most of the footage for the other ‘teams’, then I went back downstairs to collect all the IT equipment.

I waited for the reporters to write their stories and then I was very busy running around with a camera trying to film everybody’s interviews and reports.

It all calmed down at about 12 o’clock so I went with Tom and Beth to take lots of pictures of everyone hard at work.

After that MPs Nick Gibb and Phillip Dunne arrived at our school and I filmed a quick but very interesting interview with them about rising university fees. After that I helped film Brogann and Zach ‘back in the studio’ to link everything together.
Later on we decided to make a jingle that was really fun and it turned out really well.

And now here’s Brogann’s Account of BBC News School Report 2012:

I have thoroughly enjoyed being involved with the BBC News School Report. I have loved every minute of it! My role was Anchor along with Zach, and also Zach and I created a report on an issue I have been very interested in, rising university tuition fees. I had so much fun, planning, researching the report and interviewing all my slightly apprehensive interviewees! I particularly enjoyed talking to Phillip Dunne and Nick Gibb, and must admit I was surprised how forthcoming they were about participating, as though we were adults, and being honest about the very hostile issue of the cost of higher education. Another event of the day I appreciated was having the support of the BBC Radio Shropshire, therefore, I believe the report became more realistic and I was able to learn some tips, before making any silly mistakes!

However, I did find my role as presenter especially stressful because as simple as it seems, I couldn’t find the right speed to talk! But with practice and a lot of takes, I think we found a few clips that are salvageable! I have loved the experience and would definitely do it again and again as I feel as though I have learned what it is really like to be a reporter, even if it was just for a day! I can now also acknowledge the amount of planning and work that goes on behind the camera! I think the day has been a success due to Mr Bertrand and Ms Weatherill because of their expertise and wonderful snacks! After today, I may even consider becoming a journalist, as my favourite part of the day was probably writing the questions in anticipation of divulging an inside scoop!

Finally, Ellie and Megan give their account of the day:

Thursday 15^th March 2012

Today has been very busy because today is the long awaited BBC school report day! When we arrived at school we held a planning meeting where we decided who was doing what job and who got what story. It was decided that we (Megan and Ellie) would present the radio broadcast at 2 o’clock. At about 10 o’clock we all went off and got our stories. We were covering the subjects of the price of the new 2012 England football kit and the recent Year 8 trip to Arthog. At 9:30 Faith Page and John O’Donnell from the BBC came in and they gave us some tips on how to film things and some interview techniques. They also lent us some very hi-tech microphones!

We originally were interviewing people about pop sensation Adele but we recorded it on the BBC’s microphone and Faith and John had to leave in a hurry so it was lost but that is the way of the Radio industry! Thankfully we managed to rope Maths teacher Miss Parry into doing an interview all about when she came with us to Arthog in Wales.

At 2 ‘o’ clock we were ready to go! Although some of the reports were lost we filled it in with the last minute Miss Parry interview and interview with Oli who is our Year 10 technician! We also advertised this website.

The Radio broadcast went really well, all of the interviewees were superb, the show absolutely sublime. You could tell that everyone had put a lot of effort into the BBC School Report project.

Mr Bertrand, our boss, told us after our broadcast, ”I was getting very concerned as 2:00 approached that we didn’t have enough material, and was very pleased when Miss Parry agreed with the girls to do a last minute interview.”

We are very proud of everyone involved in the Radio broadcast and thank you to Faith and John but most of all thank you to Mr Bertrand and Mrs Weatherill. We hope you all enjoyed the show!

 

Following on from our School Report day on March 15, Laura Macdonald asked if we’d be willing to produce a short piece about our three torchbearers and William Brookes School’s unique Olympic connections. Naturally, we jumped at the chance and looked forward to an exciting day out and about in the sunshine (remember March?!).

Our reporters researched and brainstormed ideas for the day: under the Coubertin Oak, with sunbeams dancing through the leaves; in front of the Torch sculpture, as it sparkled in the bright light; outside the Gaskell Arms, where William Penny Brookes and Pierre de Coubertin shared inspirational thoughts whilst basking in the summer heat; beside the gravestone of William Brookes, as the warm sun blessed the churchyard and all who lay there.

Friday April 27 had to have been on the record books somewhere, as the dullest and soggiest day in Much Wenlock’s history. Yuk! They weren’t wrong when they said being a reporter wasn’t all as glamorous as it looked!

Still, we had a job to do – a mission to fulfil – a quest to conquer and, as it turned out, not enough brollies to go around!

Mark and Laura spent a couple of hours fine tuning our scripts and we were off to tell the tale of how Much Wenlock helped bring the modern Olympics to the world!

We don’t want to give away the whole story before the video and radio productions are aired, so here are a few photos, just to mark the occasion…

We’d like to say a BIG Thank you to Mark and Laura for giving us the opportunity to be a part of this filming and radio project. Apologies to Mr Renwick and Mrs Jardine who offered to give up their precious time to be interviewed, and didn’t get to do the interviews because the atrocious weather destroyed our schedule. Apologies to the parents who were faced with the clothing and footwear mudfest, and the biggest thanks of all to William Penny Brookes, without whom we would have been in double maths next to the radiator!

Doing BBC News School Report isn’t always as windswept and interesting as it looks!

Long after the lenses had disappeared, we carried on with our research into the legend of William Penny Brookes. This time we reported from in and around the school, and used the internet to access more facts and stories about the Olympic Inspiration form Much Wenlock.

On Friday April 20, two of our reporters enjoyed a day out at the Team GB selection meeting for the 2012 Olympics

A steady hand and a sharp eye were required by the competitors in order to gain the sought after spots on the team. Larry Godfrey and Simon Terry finished in first and second place at the shoot, and will be competing in the Olympics along with Alan Wills. Michael Peart narrowly missed out on joining them in London, finishing in 4th place.

Joining their male counterparts are Amy Oliver and Naomi Folkard, who finished in 1st and 2nd place at the women’s shoot.  Charlotte Burgess missed out to Alison Williamson, who has also made the team after finishing in 3rd place. I caught up with Alison during the day and she told me that it had been an ‘interesting few days’ and that ‘the venue was intended to have an atmosphere reminiscent of the real Olympics’.

She also explained to me how she felt at her first Olympic experience, stepping into the limelight at the opening ceremony, and exclaiming ‘wow…this is it!’

I shared a similar feeling when I stepped up to try archery for the first time…perhaps not at an Olympic level, but daunting none the less. Being handed the bow I did not have high hopes for myself, yet beginners luck was about to reach a whole new level… my first three shots were bulls eyes! Proudly clutching my newly obtained archery GB t-shirt, I wondered if this was how athletes felt stepping onto the podium in anticipation of a medal.  Well, this was probably as close to sporting stardom as I would ever reach anyway! But hopefully not for our team GB archers, as London 2012 creeps ever closer, let’s hope that there are some bullseyes on the cards for them too!

Reporters: Veronique Hawksworth and Francesca Flynn