6 December 2023
At the beginning of the academic year, William Ford Church of England Junior school in Dagenham, launched their brand-new school radio station.
Pupils have been working with school radio expert, Russell Prue from Anderton Tiger Radio, to speak confidently, interview effectively and to operate the controls so that they can broadcast across the school. Shows are broadcast at the start of the school day and during breaks and lunchtimes.
Headteacher, David Huntingford, had been keen to set up a school radio station after seeing the positive impact this had made on pupils’ confidence with public speaking at another school.
William Ford’s pupils broadcasted their first live show on the first day of term and parents could hear the broadcast as they dropped their children off at the start of the school day.
Jayden, a pupil at the school said:
“It has been so much fun learning how to work a radio station and broadcast to our friends and parents.”
Shalom, another pupil, added:
“When I am older, I would like to be a DJ on a radio station. I really enjoy selecting the music for the school to enjoy and then lining it up and introducing it.”
Talking about how the radio station compliments the school curriculum, David said:
“Our curriculum is designed so that pupils can experience a range of careers through their learning, the aim of this approach is to raise pupil aspirations for the future. “Not only does our school radio station provide another potential career avenue for the future, it provides excellent opportunities for all pupils, especially those who need support to develop their speech and language skills.
“We are also looking forward to weaving radio skills throughout our curriculum, from history and science to music and literacy.”
William Ford radio is currently broadcasting weekdays across the school site, and they are looking forward to extending their broadcasts over the internet so that parents and the local community can enjoy the pupils’ interviews, song choices, news bulletins and weather forecast.
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School radio expert, Russell Prue, introduces the new equipment to the pupils
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Pupils put their newly learnt skills in to action, broadcasting across the school
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William Ford Radio hits the airwaves!
