Budding journalists get insight into media industry with BBC visit

Budding journalists from a Wrexham primary school have been given a glimpse into what its like to work in the media industry.

Staff from the BBC were invited by the North Wales Children’s University – an initiative spearheaded by Prifysgol Wrecsam/Wrexham University and Bangor University – to speak to pupils from Victoria CP School in Wrexham about their roles working for the broadcaster.

BBC staff – including radio, online and Welsh language service journalists, video and picture editors, as well as members of BBC’s Bitesize and Learning team – provided a fascinating insight into their jobs, answering questions from the pupils in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 about what it’s like to work in the media.

Victoria CP School is one of 55 schools across North Wales signed up to the Children’s University scheme, which aims to raise aspirations and the development of learning new skills through activities offered in and out of school.

Schools that have signed up to the scheme have access to learning destinations across the region, in a bid to encourage children and young people to complete 30 hours of additional learning and volunteering activity, with the overarching aim of encouraging ambition and in turn, rewarding participation.

Year 6 pupil Anya Jain, who has already completed 60 hours of activities since signing up to the Children’s University, said: “I love being part of the Children’s University, I take part in tennis, karate, dancing, singing and acting. I also make learning sheets for my sister.

“It’s great fun and taking part in these activities gives me a sense of achievement. It was also good to speak to the BBC and find out about their jobs.”

Sonia John, Children’s University Project Manager, said: “Inspiring a love of learning and sparking children and young people’s appetite for developing new skills and taking part in enriching activities is at the heart of the Children’s University.

“We were thrilled that our session at Victoria CP School with the BBC evoked a lot of questions and excited discussions with pupils.

“Who knows, one day some of the children in the room might decide they want a career working in the media.

“It’s experiences like this which can inspire and shape the next generation.

“A huge thank you to the BBC for giving up their time to talk to pupils, as well as to the pupils and staff at Victoria CP School for their positive engagement.”

Sian Collyer, Production Lead for the BBC’s Creative Production career development scheme, added: “It was fantastic to be invited by the North Wales Children’s University to speak to children from Victoria CP School in Wrexham about our roles at the BBC – and the impact the BBC has.

“BBC colleagues that attended are on our Creative Production programme, and as part of it, engaging with young people and finding out what’s important to them is key in order to enhance our offering to communities.”