STUDENTS from Kingsmead School in Wiveliscombe became journalists for the day when they took part in the BBC News School Report day.

The day is held annually across the country and more than 900 secondary schools took part this year, including seven schools in Somerset.

The 14 Year 9 Kingsmead students worked in small groups on the day to research, write and create interviews, as well as resources to add to their reports. They had to work to a strict deadline of 2pm when the stories went live as written news items on the school website and were linked to the BBC News School Report webpage.

The students covered news stories they thought were important, giving both sides of the debate on local and national topics – Hinkley Point C, Brexit, gun safety, how local charity SolidariTea is providing aid to refugees abroad and a report on The Who’s 1975 film ‘Tommy’ which has been turned into a live musical production.

The students gathered facts and opinions from outside and within the school, including an interview with headteacher Mr Griffin.

Lisa Seymour, assistant leader of Learning in English, who worked with students on the day, said: “This was a fantastic experience for students, who not only tested their ability to meet deadlines, create interesting and accurate written reports, but also had to sometimes go out of their comfort zone by making phone calls to gather information.”