Posted on: Monday 24 April 2023
Croesycast pupils sat in front of a computer
Students at Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School have been interviewing Welsh stars for a new school podcast.
The team of six Year 7 pupils have already interviewed First Minister Mark Drakeford, opera singer Katherine Jenkins and Hollywood actor Luke Evans for Croesycast, which is available on the school's website.
Phoebe said: "We share the jobs out between the team and take turns to interview people. We also cover what is going on in school like football match results."
Fatima was one of the students who interviewed the First Minister. She said: "He was really nice and answered all our questions like if he enjoyed school."
Sofia, who interviewed Luke Evans, added: "I asked him where his favourite place in Wales is and why he became an actor. He said he loved acting in school and then he started asking us lots of questions!"
Croesycast was the brainchild of trainee teacher Will Boardman and also features interviews with staff and pupils, as well as updates on how the school's sports teams are performing.
The Croesycast team has also created a short video as part of Torfaen Council's #NotInMIssOut campaign, which aims to promote the opportunities on offer for pupils who attend school regularly. You can watch the video on Twitter by searching #NotInMissOut.
Attendance rates at the school have gradually improved since the pandemic, thanks to a range of measures, including rewards for pupils with 100 per cent attendance, promoting the benefits of regular attendance on social media and informing parents about the correct way to report authorised absences.
Councillor Richard Clark, Executive Member for Education, said: "The podcast is a fantastic opportunity for the team to learn skills such as interviewing, recording and audio production, which I'm sure will stand them in good stead whichever career they decide to pursue.
"The Not In Miss Out campaign is not just about promoting how essential good attendance is for students' education, it's also about celebrating the diverse opportunities schools provide through their extra-curricular programmes."
For more information about attendance and the #NotInMissOut campaign, visit our website or search for the hashtag on Twitter.