Broadcasting sessions foster digital pioneers

PUPILS in Wales can learn sports presenting techniques as part of a broadcasting project which aims to help literacy, numeracy and digital skills.

Swansea-based learning technology company Aspire 2Be has launched the iBroadcast programme in partnership with the Principality Building Society and BBC sports broadcaster Sean Holley.

The iBroadcast project, which gives pupils an insight into the world of broadcasting, will be run in schools in north Wales in October and south Wales early next year, following a successful pilot with schools in Carmarthenshire.

During the pilot of the project, pupils from Ysgol Y Strade and Ysgol Bro Myrddin in Carmarthenshire created a panel show based around the Wales v Scotland rugby match, held at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Pupils were given masterclasses in interview skills, video-editing and analysis from Aspire 2Be trainers, as well as commentary and public speaking skills from Sean Holley.

Daniel Hughes, head of business at Ysgol Y Strade, said: “We were delighted to be given the opportunity to work on the iBroadcast pilot and it was fantastic to see the confidence of the pupils grow during the programme.

“Pupils who attended have been inspired to become digital pioneers in school who have passed on the skills they developed to both teachers and pupils.”

Simon Pridham, education and performance director at Aspire 2Be, added: “The media plays a significant role in the day-to-day lives of children today, and it is incredibly important that this can be used to help them learn new skills, as well as supporting the core curriculum.”

The success of the pilot project has led the Principality Building Society to commission another programme in north Wales in October, as well as one in south Wales next March.

Each team involved will put together and present a show in the style of BBC Wales rugby programme Scrum V, with their efforts being judged by a panel at the end of the training.

The winning schools will face off in an all-Welsh final at the Principality Stadium in 2018.

The programme has also been commissioned to work with arts groups in Wales and Multi Academy Trusts in England.

HUW JOHN > The launch of a new scheme to provide Welsh-language training to further education and higher education teaching staff. From left, Karen Davies, lecturer in childcare at Cardiff and Vale College, Efa Gruffudd Jones, chief executive of the National...