College radio develops media talent of future as it hits the airwaves

TEENAGERS at a city secondary school have  launched a radio station,  which people will be able to  listen to  online.

Isca College of Media  Arts launched Isca Radio at  lunchtime yesterday, with  live music from school  bands and singers, poetry  readings and a competition  to win an iPod.

 Pupils are preparing a variety of programmes for the  station, by interviewing visitors who come into the  school to take part in activities, and recording live  events such as sports day.

The budding journalists  are also reporting news  from within the school, and  national news.

 In one programme, about  smoking and the legal age to  smoke, youngsters interviewed other students, staff  and health experts about  the issue.

 Those from Year 7 to Year  10 involved with the station  are so keen they have been  giving up their lunch times  and working after school to  research and prepare programmes.

 The station, which will be  broadcast once every two  weeks, also features poetry  and live music from school  bands.

 The school hopes to start  broadcasting live shows  once students get used to  putting them together.

 Susy Dunne, the school’s  community arts coordinator, said: “Radio has been  one of our priorities from  when we decided to become  a specialist media arts  school.

 “The second phase of the  specialism has begun and  it’s something we are keen  to get off the ground.

She said that the radio  station would increases students’ knowledge of broadcast media.

 She said: “They have  their voice heard and present news items. It increases media awareness, honing  their research and interviewing skills.

“The programmes reflect  what’s going on in school.”

 All pupils who are interested are able to have a go.

Susy said: “The more  kids that can get involved,  the more programmes we  can put together.

 “The students are ecstatic  about it. There was a great  big crowd at the launch.

 “There was a competition  to win an iPod with a staff  member with a disguised  voice giving out clues.”

 The station can be heard  on Isca College’s website, by  clicking “form”, then “Isca  College Radio”, then “listen  online.”

 Visit www.iscacollege.devon.sch.uk to listen.