Preparing for an interview for Children in Need

Several schools tried their hand at journalism during the first practice News Day of this academic year as a way of preparing for the ultimate News Day on 11 March 2010.

Here's a running acount of how the day unfolded. All times are GMT:

1130 Desborough School in Maidenhead have been looking at a variety of local, national and international stories. Ross said that his group had decided to look at the merger of two Formula 1 teams. "I didn't really watch much of the sport so don't have much background to it. It's been really interesting looking at the major newspapers and seeing their different takes on the story," he said.

PRACTICE NEWS DAYS 10 December 14 January 4 February How to join in a practice News Day Example of a Practice News Day

Teacher Dawn Hughes said that another group were looking at the link between diabetes and healthy schools. "With the rise in type 2 diabetes, students are looking to see if there is a link to the snacks they eat within school," she said.

One group of students have been busy writing and editing an interview they made on Wednesday with Children in Need's fundraising manager Emma Bradley.

Practice News Day starts

International stories also feature in their bulletin. Jimmy said they chose the bombings in Pakistan as it was "bold and interesting". Later they will explore what is happening in Australia with the bush fires. "I have found the day quite interesting, have learnt new skills and have found out things I didn't know before," he said.

1230 Nearly 90 Year 7 pupils at Rainham School for Girls in Kent are busy preparing video, audio and text-based stories with help from Year 8 and sixth form Media Studies students. They have split into three classrooms with a crew in each: a camera crew, a radio crew and a picture/website crew.

Choosing news stories

Jessica from Year 7 said: "It's really fun and unusual to use camera equipment in school. I've enjoyed interviewing people."

The girls plans to cover a number of stories including Children in Need, their school's eco-warrior campaign, a new diner that has opened in their school and a Year 8 student who has been chosen for the England judo squad. Georgina from Year 7 said: "I liked asking people questions on camera and presenting ideas to an audience."

1415 Norlington School for Boys in Waltham Forest are taking part in their second School Report practice News Day. As the first one focused on print journalism, this time the 16 pupils have been learning about audio and video editing, and mixing. The class has been split into four groups and each have to come up with ideas to make a short piece of news content.

Keen School Reporters

Teacher, Amar Anwar, explained that along with their own ideas the students are also being encouraged to produce stories on Children In Need and the BBC's Plant a Tree project.

Abdullah from Year 8 said: "I enjoy being in the BBC team, because we have a good experience of being young journalists. I feel that this is a good opportunity to show that you really can work as a team. I also think this is a good way to get prepared for the future and for when you get a job. It is also worth the day off [normal lessons] working with Mr. Anwar and I feel that this is an opportunity to have fun and work at the same time. I enjoy this project overall."

Researching using the internet involves separating facts and opinions

1700

Teacher Mr Randall sounded exhausted but exhilarated after throwing his class of 31 Year 7's right in the deep end on their first practice News Day. The students from Philip Morant School and College in Colchester worked throughout the day on several TV pieces about a range of subjects from a Madonna-mad fan to child evacuees.

The students' day started by choosing their own stories from a selection of newspapers and then researching the story on the internet. Jess' group choose to investigate Madonna's ultimate fan, a man from Rio De Janerio who went to great lengths to meet his idol. When Jess returned to school after an absence, she was surprised to find she was a journalist for the day. She and her team worked closely to deliver their piece to camera. "I didn't want it to end, because it was really fun" she said.

Hannah worked on a story about evacuees. The group focussed on separating facts from opinion, one of the key lessons of the day. Once they'd researched their facts using the internet they started to pull together information to write their own scripts for their TV bulletin.

The big question - did they make the deadline? Well, that's why it's called a practice day!

Desborough School, Maidenhead

Norlington School for Boys, Waltham Forest

Philip Morant School and College, Colchester

Rainham School for Girls, Gillingham

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