BBC School Report live!

If you read my post about BBC School Report last year, you'll know it wasn't the easiest of projects, though it is promoted as being utterly simple and stress free, it didn't work out like that. However, on reflection there were an accumulation of issues; firstly, the whole URL upload thing and secondly being over ambitious and getting over 50 students involved.

So when the emails starting pinging about BBC School Report this year I was a tad cautious. However, after a few meetings with the charming Matthew Pick from the BBC, a unique approach came about. With support and space from the Watershed, we decided to set up a live style newsroom at the Watershed and invite a few other schools to join in.

So in partnership with the BBC, Watershed, Redland Green and City Academy, Fairfield students helped recreate a live newsroom at the Watershed. Students researched, reported currents news working alongside BBC experts. Such was the excitement about the day that we were live on Points West! Here is a post I put on the BBC School Report blog about the day:

"Myself and the two student bloggers, Laurie and Callum (an absolute artiste when it comes to editing HTML) are surrounded by hurried flurry of activity with students interviewing exclusive guests, deciding the news bulletins for the day, reporting live to BBC Bristol radio and honing their presenting skills. BBC staff have commented that this truly seems to mirror the energy of a real news room." see www.bbcschoolreport.blogspot.com for the other posts from the day.

It was a mad, manically creative day with everyone multi-tasking to the max. We had a mass of BBC professionals there as well as a 'surprise' visit from the glamorous Alex Lovell who swooped in like some super Charlie's Angels news woman! The students seemed exhausted but exhilarated by the end of the day.

I was so impressed with all the students from Fairfield, Redland Green and City Academy. They formed such a dynamic team. Go Bristol schools!

Below is the clip from the lunchtime news. I will put up the evening Points West as soon as I get the file.