Students tune into media opportunities

Students from Cardinal Langley RC High School, Falinge Park High School, Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College, the co-located Redwood School and Oulder Hill, and St Anne’s Academy are to become the stars of a new radio station called Difference, which is launching soon with help from Key 103, Aim Higher and the Greater Manchester Challenge, after taking part in the ‘Preparing for Media City’ programme, which aims to equip students with the skills and experience to enable them to capitalise on the opportunities becoming available as a result of the new Media City development in Salford Quays.

The schools  have been selected to work with Key 103 during 2010 with the aim of launching online radio stations in their own school, supported by mentors from Aim Higher and Key 103.

The programme is funded by The Greater Manchester Challenge, a three-year programme, which aims to implement and secure significant improvements in education for each of the 600,000 children and young people in Rochdale, Stockport, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.

Year 9 students are invited to apply for 12 ‘jobs’ in marketing, creative, news or presenting at a special launch assembly hosted in each school, by Key 103 presenter Adam Cole. Four teams of three are selected following a workshop and interview day on the Key 103 bus, and the successful candidates then spend two days intensive training at the station’s Castlefield studios, learning all the skills necessary to run their own radio station at school.

As well as improving the confidence and self esteem of the students involved, the programme gives them a taste of what it is really like to work in a busy media environment and allows them to practice key life skills such as teamwork, speaking and listening skills, applying for a job and undergoing an interview. Aim Higher and Key 103 will offer some follow up training in schools, and there will be an end of year celebration in December – after which the radio stations will become independent, with the current team passing on their skills to younger students to make the project sustainable.

Paul Galloway, Project Manager for Key 103 said: “Key 103 is extremely proud of the work we are currently doing with schools from all areas of Greater Manchester. Students participating in the Key2radio project will get a fantastic insight into the radio industry and the variety of jobs that are available, whilst gaining valuable speaking and listening, team work and life skills.”

Amongst the students taking part from Cardinal Langley are Frank Rowe (marketing), Charlotte Martin (Creative), Jordan Lazenbury (News) and Melissa Curd (Presenter). Over two days the creative and marketing team were tasked with designing posters, developing a marketing and publicity strategy to launch the radio station at school and writing and directing online commercials with a professional voice over artist.

The news team selected an agenda for a four minute bulletin which they then had to research, write and deliver, and the presenters were coached on what makes good programming, selecting music and timings before planning and recording a 30 minute broadcast which will be the launch show for Difference. The show will include music from the students themselves and an item of the famous people who have attended Cardinal Langley, including Steve Coogan, Liam Fray and Daniel Moores from the Courteeners, Travis Yates from Stupid and Billy Elliot and Suranne Jones from Coronation Street.

Pupil Charlotte Martin says, “It has been really interesting to visit a real radio station and find out how everything works and what happens behind the scenes. Everyone has been really friendly.”

Melissa Curd, who already presents a radio show on All FM adds, “I would like to do this professionally so it is a brilliant thing to be able to put on my CV, and I’m really looking forward to carrying it on with our own station when we get back to school.”

Colette Borrill, Head of ICT at Cardinal Langley says, “This project has been fantastic for the students, they didn’t want to leave, and everyone at Key 103 has been really friendly and helpful. The programme they made is really good, and quite funny in parts, and the experience has helped them to understand how much planning goes into a radio show, and taught them the skills they need. Everyone came back to school full of enthusiasm and the students are already planning what they are going to do for the next show and trying to get more people involved.”

Professor Mel Ainscow, Chief Adviser for Greater Manchester Challenge added: “Greater Manchester Challenge is delighted to support the Preparing for Media City initiative in collaboration with Aim Higher and Key 103. One of the aims of the challenge is to find innovative local solutions to promote educational achievement and raise aspirations, and we aim to locate and extend the great practice that already exists within the city region to help our schools and students realise their potential and create a sustainable model for lasting improvement. This project is an excellent example of an inventive and exciting scheme which will deliver real benefits for young people in Greater Manchester.”