Three Cumbrian schools are celebrating this week after winning awards in the recent 'Making the News' competition.
Milburn Primary School in Penrith and Ulverston Victoria High School received their awards this week from Olympic Gold medallist Robin Cousins MBE at a special awards ceremony in London. Beaconside C of E Infant School also won an award but were unable to travel to London to accept it but were sent a special video message from Robin Cousins congratulating them on their achievement.
The Making the News project was launched back in September by CLEO (Cumbria and Lancashire Education Online). Schools from across Cumbria were invited to come along and research and write news stories which were later approved and published through the Making the News technology. Their work was then entered into this national competition.
This exciting new online news project enables schools to:
1. Publish pupils’ writing virtually immediately making full use of multi-media
2. Publish articles relevant across the entire curriculum and all key stages
3. Provide a living environment for creativity, making classwork and homework visible, shared and relevant
4. Publish all school news quickly
5. Improve pupils’ transition between schools
6. Explore and extend home-school links
7. Set up peer to peer communication between schools
8. Link to Making the News directly from their school website, keeping it relevant
9. Develop and share positive publicity
10 Encourage independent learning and provide a showcase for gifted and talented pupils
11. Set pupils writing for a real and meaningful purpose
County councillor Philip Chappelhow, cabinet spokesman for children's services said:
"It seems we have quite a number of budding young journalists in our schools. The Making the News project is just another example of the CLEO partnership providing exciting and relevant content on our IT infrastructure to give everyone the opportunity to improve their education and skills levels. The pupils involved had a great time taking part and I am delighted that they have won these awards."
Anyone wanting to know more about the project should contact Damaris Revell,
Learning Consultant for CLEO on 01524 592800.
Photographs will be available from damaris@cleo.net.uk, head@milburn.cumbria.sch.uk and jeff.e2bn@e2bn.net