Pupils learn new skills in newspaper task

Budding reporters at a school near Market Drayton have put together their own newspaper as part of an initiative to improve writing skills.

Youngsters at Norton-in-Hales Primary School have taken pictures and written reports on school events like the planting of new daffodils and the visit of an athlete.

Class Three have been studying newspapers for the past month and teacher Sue Lea said they have been having great fun.

She said: "We have a newsdesk and they all have their reporters' notebooks.

"They are putting together a class newspaper and have been loving it.

"The children are thinking about their own stories over the weekends and have been writing about competitions they have been involved in and things they have done."

The group, who are between seven and nine years old, have also been making up stories about aliens landing and finding treasure.

Oliver Hatton said: "I enjoy it because it is all about made up things and if we want to be a photographer when we grow up we will know what to do."

Classmate Katherine Armstrong said: "It is fun and we get to know people better."

Jessica Horne added: "I thought it was really fun when we get to type it up and take photographs."

It coincides with the BBC's School Report scheme which gives 11 to 16 year old pupils the chance to make their own news reports for a real audience and celebrates annual News Day on Thursday.