YOUNGSTERS from a Portishead school became television news reporters for the day as part of a project to engage young people in the news.

YOUNGSTERS from a Portishead school became television news reporters for the day as part of a project to engage young people in the news.

More than 30 students from Gordano School teamed up with pupils from 500 other schools across the UK, to make the news for the BBC's School Report News Day. They were given the opportunity to decide which stories their school should report and their work was featured on BBC news programmes throughout the day.

Ex-teacher and BBC News presenter, Huw Edwards who is lending his support to the project said: "I'm involved because I want to give young people the chance to make the news themselves, and I want to share the principles of good journalism."

The students worked hard carrying out interviews and producing reports for several months, in preparation for the news day.

Gareth Alvarez, the English teacher running the project said: "This is truly the beginning of something special, giving students the chance to be experts, working alongside teachers instead of in front of them, and sharing the responsibility for both teaching as well as learning."

Gordano School's special report, broadcast at 2pm on news day featured their links with a school in Rwanda.