MEDIA TRAINING – ‘THE EVOLUTION OF THE VIKINGS’ WITH SANDYMOOR SCHOOL
THE BRIEF
The Reporters’ Academy and Sandymoor School embarked on a new initiative. A completely fresh look at student-led media production, so that young people could see themselves in a creative environment, work as a team and explore talents not always celebrated in a traditional school environment.
FORMAT
Online, photographic, in-school training, on location filming
APPROACH
TRA developed the skills of a ‘Sandymoor Crew’ to the point where they planned, filmed and edited a report on the activities of the local Rugby League team, the Widnes Vikings. The Crew were tasked with providing a video report on an aspect of the club. They had to brainstorm a number of possible scenarios, storyboard them and then pitch the final proposal to representatives of the Vikings and Sandymoor School. Once the final project was agreed on, work commenced.
IMPACT
The final piece was premiered in school, during a whole school assembly, and then was shown to the Vikings Chairman & dignitaries in the Chairman’s boardroom before a Super League home match. The TRA Sandymoor Crew are now going to develop over time into a team of students entirely responsible for recording all school-based events, in the most appropriate media. This could be anything from a more traditional school newspaper through to a school-based internet TV channel.
The schools’ evaluation stated the impact on the young people, including;
- – Awareness of a real-life situation, with real consequences in terms of the success of the business
- – Collaboration and co-operation, especially with people who have different skill sets and with who they may never integrate with otherwise
- – Development of the ‘soft’ skills required to be successful in the modern workplace
There is a long term commitment to the partnership with a Level 3 BTEC Sports Media qualification delivered by TRA in partnership with the school.
The content was placed on Youtube, Widnes Vikings, Superleague and Rugby League World Cup websites and showcased live across a number of venues linked to the rugby and education.
QUOTE
‘There are many, incredibly diverse, benefits to every student involved in The Reporters’ Academy collaboration.”
Andrew Green-Howard, Headteacher Sandymoor School