School Report

The BBC has been challenging students up and down the country to produce their own news program.

School Report is designed to give young people a greater insight into how the news is put together.

Following on from the success of their last media project, which was based on producing a newspaper, Le Rocquier students have now seized the broadcasting gauntlet.

BBC Jersey visited the school, to find out how students were getting on with School Report ahead of the 26 March deadline.

School Report

The task is quite simple: using all their creative skills, Year 9 students have to produce a piece of radio good enough to be broadcast on BBC Jersey’s breakfast show.

A tall order, but one they have taken on with gusto. We spoke to three students – Steph, Shania, and Iona – about their experiences.

Steph said: “It has been good working with a group. You become more confident with your opinions and are able to say what you think.

This was backed up fellow student, Shania, who added: “I think people want their voices to be heard, and this has given us our chance to say things about our school.

“We are doing this mini-project, which talks about our school uniform and what we would like to change about it.

“We have been speaking to the head teachers about it and it has developed into a really big thing.”

The students remain unfazed by the technical side of broadcasting, relishing the chance to work in a more advanced medium than traditional pen and paper.

Iona said: “It is quite simple to use the little recorders, but there is so much technical stuff that you are not aware of.

Steph added: “I think there are some people that are better on the computers, but everyone watches and learns from them. Loads of people in out group benefitted from the practical work.”

Radio beckons

The girls agreed that radio has been a more interesting challenge than the newspaper, saying the hands-on nature of the project was much more fun.

Iona said: “I interviewed our headmaster Mr Rolfe about the school uniform, for part of the radio programme. I quite enjoyed the responsibility of asking the questions.”

It is obvious from chatting to the girls that they have gained a great deal from the project.

Shania said: “I enjoyed developing my skills and learning about how much work goes into what you hear coming out of the car radio.”

Trail and error

Deputy headmaster Phil Slater is clearly delighted with the progress of his students, but is keen to stress they were, for the most part, left to get on with it by themselves.

Mr Slater said: “We have deliberately backed off so they learn from trial and error. They are a bright group, so we decided it would be good to give them the freedom to come up with their own ideas.

“For some has been a big learning curve, but they have done really well. They have learned lots of skills and have a better understanding of how radio works, and how complicated it is.”

Mr Slater says the next step for the school is to set up a media studio and has already earmarked a room next to the drama room.

School radio

Le Rocquier School already sports its own radio station – Le Rocq Air. Although not directly involved with School Report, student Jack says the project has fired interest in what he and the other radio enthusiasts are doing.

Jack said: “People have been willing to come in and ask us what we are doing. I have been showing them how to use the software on my laptop and how to use the desk.

“I was quite surprised by how many people are interested in radio. It’s great.”