Pupils enjoy seeing their names in print (From Worcester News)

Pupils enjoy seeing their names in print

3:44pm Tuesday 5th May 2009

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PRODUCING a daily paper is not an easy task. There is a lot to think about, from stories to gathering information, writing it accurately, along with taking the photographs, planning the pages and of course getting it printed and distributed.

So for a group of pupils to understand this process and having a school magazine that they can take part in, this can be a great way to learn, improve their English skills, work together as a team and also see their name in print.

But alongside this, the magazine is a way to help a school publicise the activities they are having or have held for their families, fellow pupils and the community to enjoy too.

At Christopher Whitehead Language College in Bromwich Road, Worcester, their new school magazine In Pursuit is hot off the press thanks to one enterprising teacher.

Rachael Stevens, English teacher and professional mentor – and now magazine editor – wanted to improve the school’s communications and look of the newsletters.

Ms Stevens said: “We are so pleased with our new magazine.

This is the first one out and it’s nice and colourful.

“We wanted to do something a bit more exciting than the newsletter we had before which had a lot of words and not many pictures.

“But we also wanted people in the community to be able to read it.

“There are so many great activities going on in the school, but it’s a big site and so sometimes you didn’t know what other members of staff and pupils are doing.

“So this was a way to document it and show everyone the great work that goes on here.

“I think it is important for the whole community, as well as the school to know what happens here, and to see what the children do in the school,” she said.

To get the new magazine off the ground, a group of teachers and pupils got together to decide what they wanted to cover from the term’s events, including interviews with new teachers and activities the pupils have taken part in.

Ms Stevens said: “They did such a good job. The questions they asked the new teachers were great and we got some really impressive answers, some of them we wouldn’t have known unless we had asked. For example one of the teachers is an Irish dancer and another is an opera singer.

“We wanted to make it so that it could be read by anyone. So someone in the community could read it, or if someone is thinking about coming to this school as a pupil or member of staff, they can see the fun activities we do.

“Most staff do let us know when there is something happening in school. They take photos to go on our website, so we can use those too.”

One of the magazine writers, Jake Daley, aged 13, said: “I jumped at the chance to do this. It’s great to be able to do this and see what is going on. When I heard about it, I thought it would be cool to be able to have my own page and see my name in it.”

The pupils are from mixed ability groups in English, from the top and lower bands and some weren’t even told they were helping out with the new magazine.

Jake said: “We didn’t know it was going to be in the magazine when we first did the questions, but I really like it. It’s nice to see my name in there and I’m glad we did it.”

Jodie Nutt, 13, said: “I am so glad I did it but I wasn’t told either. I really like the idea of being a journalist and this has helped me to see what they do and some of the questions that they ask. I have enjoyed this so much.”

Ms Stevens said: “I don’t think some of them would have had the confidence to think they could do this. But this has really helped them see that they can and I think they have got a lot out of it.”

The magazine, which had 200 copies printed, is also available to download on the school’s website.

The group is now busy writing the second edition for next term and are going to be looking for funding through sponsorship or advertising to continue their great work.

Pupils at Elgar Technology College in Bilford Road, Worcester, are also enjoying journalism and have their own press gang made up of pupils who are interested in writing their own school newsletter.

Sam Roach, assistant headteacher, said the pupils wanted to change the original format so they decided to set up the group, led by senior prefect Alison Hellings and other students who were interested.

She said: “The students have taken full ownership of this now and we believe that this has had a very positive impact on all the pupils in this school.

“With the help of Debbie Band they have successfully produced three school newsletters. The recent Elgar column is the most successful.

It is colourful and the layout really catches the reader’s eye.

“More students have read the newsletter so the press gang has achieved its aim.

“Mrs Band has brought in guest speakers for the group and it would be wonderful for them to spend some time in the newsroom at the Worcester News.

“They really are budding journalists and reporters in the making.”

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