CHILDREN got their first experience of what it is like working in a newsroom.

Year 8 students at Charters School took part in the annual BBC News school report – a day-long event which offers students the opportunity to experience working within a news desk.

More than 1,000 children nationwide are said to take part in the day every year.

The journalists-to-be have a morning news meeting, when they discuss the day’s top stories followed by writing stories, as well as undertaking research and interviews.

Finally, when all writing is complete and the film footage edited and the stories are sent out to a news-hungry public.

The students tackled a variety of news stories on the day, aiming to provide reports which were interesting, relevant and personal to them.

Year 8 student and BBC school report day editor Ella Clarke, said: “My biggest challenge was ensuring that each team produced great articles and that we worked to the publication deadlines.”

News teams interviewed staff and their peers in order to add depth and a range of perspectives to their work and as with the real world of news reporting, the students had to keep to a strict deadline.

Fay Brennan, an English and media teacher at Charters School and organiser of the day’s event, said: “I am very excited to once again be running the BBC School Report here at Charters - an event that we have taken part in since 2007.

“We are very lucky to have so many passionate and articulate young people in year 8.

“I have been extremely impressed with the hard work and dedication of the news team and am proud of the many outstanding articles and the awesome TV broadcast they created. I look forward to doing it all again next year.”

The day’s work can be viewed on: https://chartersschoolreport.tumblr.com/