Students' feedback

The Olympic 400-metres silver medallist has been working with a class of 12 and 13-year-olds at Hurlingham and Chelsea School to improve their fitness.

As well as training with Roger for an extra hour each week during the autumn term, the 28 pupils reported on his influence and other school sporting events.

On Thursday 7 December 2006, 20 members of the Year 8 class wrote sport reports which were published on the Kingwood City Learning Centre (CLC) website.

Eight of the students made a TV report about sport at their school featuring an interview with Roger and their teachers.

Roger has won fifteen major Championship medals.

Roger said: "The students worked together to make the TV report - the same skills they have been developing in their sport.

"The progress they have made physically has had a knock on effect in other lessons. A few teachers have said there is now more of a team spirit."

He added: "I could see the some of the confidence the students have gained in their sport coming through in the interview."

Each of the budding TV journalists took on a different news-making role.

Producer Lorik, 12, said: "I really enjoyed doing something I've never done before."

Roger was one of the guests interviewed as part of the students' TV news report.

Presenter Gemma, 12, said: "I've learned to ask the questions we prepared but also to listen to the answers and ask other questions I think of at the time."

Cameraman Michael, 13, said: "It's been really good fun and I think I'm quite good at controlling the camera. You have to keep it really still."

Sound person Princess, 12, said: "It's really important to use the headphones to listen in. That way you can hear if the levels are right and if there is any background noise."

Director Sara, 12, said: "I really enjoyed interviewing our PE teacher Miss Lewis. It's something we don't usually do and it was really good fun."

The Year 8 pupils wrote sports reports for the website.

Roger's coaching sessions will be featured in a Radio 4 programme - Roger Black's Olympic Challenge - on 26, 27 and 28 February 2007, between 1100 and 1130 GMT.

Roger said: "It's holistic for the students, not only take part in the sporting activities, but also to report on them. Writing about and filming this school fitness project has given the students a sense of ownership."

School news project

The Year 8 pupils made news reports as part of a separate project to encourage students to make TV, radio and online news in their schools and publish it on a school website.

Sixty UK schools, including Hurlingham and Chelsea, are involved in the 2006/7 pilot stage of BBC News School Report, which the BBC hopes to extend to all secondary schools in the future.