Since 2008, Claydon High School’s English Department has taken part in the annual School Report project designed and run by the BBC. On a certain day every March, students across the country are invited by the BBC to give up time-tabled lessons in order to produce and complete online newspapers based on events in and around the students’ schools.

At Claydon High School, the Department has organised this around a group of volunteer students taken largely from Years 7, 8 and 9. These students meet weekly in an after school club and regularly produce articles for the school’s newsletter. The BBC School Report News Day is a great opportunity for them to put into practice the skills they have learnt, whilst working under pressure and to a tight deadline! The crucial editor’s role is taken by an older student/s with an assisting editorial team as support. Current Year 11 students Alex and Lauren have been the joint editors for the last two editions.

This project offers great opportunities for all of those taking part, whilst offering everyone else a fascinating snapshot into life at Claydon High School. For the past four years the event has also been covered by BBC Radio Suffolk, with three of our students having featured as live ‘weathermen’ on the radio’s morning show as well as Lauren conducting an interview with Mr Potter live on air!