School Report

What is School Report all about?

The idea of BBC School Report is to interest young people in news of all sorts, and the world around them, by giving them the chance to make their own news. It is also an opportunity for students to inform a real audience, via BBC programmes and web pages, about the stories which are important to them.

For more information about BBC School report click here:

BBC London 94.9fm

This year for School Report, two of BBC London 94.9's Drivetime team collaborated with Our Lady's Convent High School in Stamford Hill to help them make the news. 

Reporter Anjana Gadgil and researcher Becky Grisedale-Sherry worked with a group of 13 girls at the Catholic school, between the ages of 11 - 13, to help them put together a selection of news stories that they wanted to cover.

Because their school is in Hackney, the girls wanted to investigate whether the new East London Line Underground station was going to benefit the area or displace established homes and businesses; what the Olympic legacy will mean for them and their friends after 2012 and how much of a preventative measure youth clubs are against anti-social behaviour.

Anjana Gadgil (left) with reporters...

But that's not all - already three of the girls got the chance to meet London's Mayor Boris Johnson for a quick Q and A session and the opportunity to get some answers to their most pressing questions, and you'll be able to hear in full what he had to say for himself on School Report day.

During the interview, Boris Johnson revealed how he's planning to go on a dinner date with Ken Livingstone, defended himself against criticism over his "unorthodox flag-waving" at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, and promised free tickets for some London school children to the 2012 Games.

Audio

Buki, Naomi, Debbie and Sarah reported live on their findings regarding the new East London line station at Dalston Kingsland for the Jo & Paul Breakfast Show

Another four of the girls wanted to find out what the legacy of the Olympic Games taking place on their doorstep will be, for them and their peers.

Edden, Denise, Michelle and Amy spoke to Vanessa Feltz live on her programme

For Drivetime, they've been looking at how to improve the youth clubs in their area. Listen here

BBC London News

Pupils at Barking Abbey Lower School, with the help of BBC London's Ellen Rose and Sonja Jessup, have been investigating the impact that mugging and other street crime has on children.

They've been interviewing other young people in London about their own experiences, and discovered that some children have come to see being threatened, or having their possessions stolen, as a "normal" occurrence. Some young people don't even report crime, because they don't want to "make a big deal of it", or worry their parents.

Boris Johnson & Barking Abbey Lower School pupils

The pupils have been speaking to local police about how to stay safe and discovering how keeping valuable possessions, such as iPods and mobile phones, hidden can prevent them from becoming a victim.

They're also investigating the psychological impact on young people who are targeted.

BBC London would like to thank both schools for taking part in this year's School Report.