Ever wondered what it's like being a radio reporter? Twenty Year Eight students at Castle Rock High School in Coalville have spent a week learning how to do just that.  | | Jenny and Jake interviewing |
The students made their own radio packages, three minute audio features that were played out on BBC Radio Leicester's Breakfast. BBC Radio Leicester reporters Jo Bostock and Helen Babbs went back to school to teach the students the tricks of their trade. The students split into four groups, and each came up with an idea for a feature. They then worked together to record their ideas into a news package to be broadcast on the radio. Using professional recording equipment, they interviewed experts and fellow teenagers, created sound effects, recorded their own links, and found music for their own soundtracks. So what did the students and teachers think?One group decided to make a piece about cyber bullying. Frankie, Jenny, Laura, Gareth and Jake said they had fun exploring the subject. | "Vox popping was scary because we didn't know how people would react to our questions, but it wasn't as bad as we expected because people were helpful." | | Daniel, Vicki, Zack, Chris, and Harriet |
"We thought making a radio package about bullying would be really hard and take ages to do. In fact it was a fun experience, once we were told what we needed to do and were given help." Charlotte, James, Tom, Sarah, and Emma choose the subject of bullying for their package. They said: "We learnt a lot from Jo and Helen while we made our piece about school dinners. First we were taught how to use mini-disc players and microphones. There is a certain way to hold a microphone, which we found a little tricky!" Daniel, Vicki, Zack, Chris, and Harriet recorded a piece about fashion. They said vox-popping, asking fellow pupils their opinions on certain subjects, was daunting at first. "Vox popping was scary because we didn't know how people would react to our questions, but it wasn't as bad as we expected because people were helpful." With climate chaos constantly in the news Liam, Zeb, Chloe, Shannon, and Keshav choose to focus on the environment for their radio package.  | | Zack interviewing Inspector Andy Ramsay |
"We enjoyed interviewing different people, working with the recording equipment, and vox popping. The whole experience was amazing and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We now know that being on the radio is fun." Castle Rock teachers Paul Bailey and Wayne Beech felt the project was a real success, and hope to launch their own school radio station next term. They said: "We're constantly looking to challenge our students, but even teachers sometimes forget just how capable and mature young teenagers can be." | 
