Community Life

For two weeks in May, BBC South West teamed up with Prince Rock Primary School in Plymouth to make a TV programme entirely written, directed and produced by 21 eleven year olds.

Originally the idea of former BBC News producer Amanda Bluglass, the partnership project was part of a Theatre Royal, Plymouth initiative called Obstacle Race.

It's helped a range of young people in the Cattedown area learn more about their neighbourhood through photography, drama, art and film making.

The students on location

Thanks to the BBC, the year six pupils from Prince Rock Primary school benefited from professional equipment and guidance to help make a film about Plymouth life in the 1950s.

The history project took the guise of a news report from the era and after initial planning meetings, the students transformed their classroom into a newsroom and studio.

They designed a logo for their TV company and constructed a set, complete with lights and camera.

Because two of their interviewees were unable to use the stairs, the reading room - Pooh's Corner - was converted into a remote studio.

When the rain stayed off, the whole class went out on location shoots, and the classroom's interactive white board was magically transformed into a high-tech weather screen.

The project featured a video diary room to record the process of making a TV programme. 

The students visit the BBC studios

For the students it was a fun, and eye-opening, task.

"It's been really great, so amazing, being on TV," said Daniel Campbell, one of the students taking part. "I think it's really really good!"

Another student, Bradley O'Connor, agreed.

"It's been good, teaching us about cameras and life in the 1950s," said Bradley.

"It's been good to do this project, and a once in a life time chance to visit the BBC studios." 

The finished film, presented, written and shot entirely by the year six students is being shown on a big screen at the Theatre Royal's education building, TR2,  before an audience of local people at 11am on Saturday 3rd June.