What the students say In pictures

For each of the last two years, a team of school pupils has had the opportunity to work with David Dimbleby and the Question Time team, producing a special edition of the programme.

The Schools Question Time Challenge is to run for a third time, in the current academic year 2005-6, and schools can register to take part before the closing date of 6 January 2006.

Schools Question Time is the final product of a far wider education initiative with the goal of helping schools nationwide by supporting the citizenship curriculum, helping improve students' public speaking and listening skills, and engaging young people in society and politics.

2005 CHALLENGE One aspect that impressed us greatly was the fact that the whole Question Time production team spent so much time talking to the students Carole Jordan, Deputy Head, Ilford County High Schools QT 2005

The initiative in active citizenship is supported by BT, the Institute for Citizenship and the BBC. The challenge takes part in three stages.

Initially schools can register for a free online education resource pack to support directly the teaching of citizenship for secondary school pupils in the classroom.

Curriculum based work sheets based on speaking and listening, enquiry and debate, teamwork and critical self analysis form the basis of the pack.

TIMETABLE 30 June 2005: Registration opens 11 July 2005: Initial lesson plan available online 5 Sept 2005: Full online resource available including teacher's notes and lesson cards 5 Nov 2005: Schools who have entered by this date are guaranteed a session with a BBC journalist 6 Jan 2006: Final deadline for entry for the Challenge Summer 2006: Schools Question Time on BBC One Read David Dimbleby's tips

The resource pack also provides guidance for taking part in the second part of the challenge in which schools are invited to stage their own debates based upon the popular BBC One Question Time format.

Schools which have entered by 5 November are guaranteed direct support in the form of a session with a BBC journalist.

Judges then select 12 regional winners who put on their own Question Time events.

The four winning schools from across the UK then send pupils to join the team producing the real BBC Question Time.

The eight students who won that opportunity in 2005 helped produce a special programme from Manchester.

They helped make key editorial decisions and took on production roles, such as editor, audience producers and panel producers.

The Schools Question Time programme for 2005 was broadcast on Thursday, 30 June, at 2235 BST on BBC One.

Teachers can register their schools for the challenge for the current academic year 2005-6 and receive the free online education resource pack, using the link below. The closing date is 6 January 2006.

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