Junior journalists make the news

The Whitworth Community High School BBC News School Report Team

Newshounds spent a day as reporters and won high praise from the BBC.

Whitworth Community High School Year 8 and Y9 students took part in the BBC News School Report Day when they researched, wrote, recorded and videoed the news.

They also created an app with a QR code, which could be scanned through a mobile phone taking the user straight to the stories.

Sarika Unadkat, from BBC News School Report said: “I thoroughly enjoyed watching and reading all of your reports and was particularly impressed by your school’s app.

“The reports were fantastic and we were very impressed with the varied amount of content produced and we loved the QR code for your website.

“Your students should be very proud of their work. We hope to have you on board again next year for News Day 2016.”

It is the third time the school has entered and this year the students won two awards for web design and further computational thinking.

The 32 students worked in small teams on a variety of subjects from TV and media to sport and world news.

Sean McKay, 12, said: “The best part for me was researching the stories. I like politics and I like discussions and having constructive arguments.

“I have previously visited the House of Commons and House of Lords with the Children’s Council in Manchester.

“It was pretty easy working to a deadline and I really enjoyed the day.”
Brad Watts, 12, said: “It was nice to do something new and the students got to work with people they had not worked with before.

“Our group wrote about the Manchester City game against Barcelona, about beaches, waste and pollution and the wars that are currently happening.”