Pupils from a North West school got the chance to find out more about working in radio, film, TV, and media production as part of a mentoring project.
The year 10 Creative iMedia students from Blackburn Central High School (BCHS) teamed up with students from the University of Salford.
The initial workshops took place in person at BCHS and virtually, where students met with their mentors Frankie, Eve, and Lauran. The project culminated in a visit to the University’s Media City UK campus where the pupils held a presentation.
Zahid Razzak is Director of Learning in ICT at the school.
He said: “The students were given a tour of the amazing media facilities at the University and got a chance to see some excellent resources used by the students for radio, film, TV, and media production.
“We then settled in a conference room with our mentors for some final preparation before each student got the chance to present their Creative iMedia products to an audience.
“I am so pleased with the student conduct and especially the assistance between some of our students and what they were offering to their peers – they really showed great collaboration themselves.”
Senior Lecturer in Early Modern English Literature, Dr Lucia Nigri said: “The partnership between The University of Salford and Blackburn Central High School has successfully fostered the development of essential employability skills, specifically tailored to meet the demands of the contemporary job market within creative and digital sectors.
“The students involved in this program have not only gained valuable expertise in their chosen fields, but have also acquired crucial life skills such as self-confidence, adeptness in presentations, and the ability to learn independently.”
“The School of Arts, Media, and Creative Technology is very proud to play an active role in shaping the fabric of the Northwest region.
“This collaboration serves, indeed, as a shining example of how educational institutions can come together to ensure that students are well-equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the ever-evolving 21st-century workforce”.
Pupils from the school have in past years attended the Asian Media Awards, an annual event which is supported by the University of Salford
The school said it would to continue working closely with Lucia Nigri, Lucy Taylor, and the student mentors at the University.
Zahid added: “Thank you to the University of Salford team for making this possible. I would also like to say a big thank you Dr. Emma Deeks at Futures U, who provided coach funding to sponsor the trip to Salford.
“This has been a truly remarkable experience for our learners, and a great example of collaboration amongst Lancashire based organisations to benefit young people in the community and raise prospects.”
A spokesperson from the Asian Media Awards said: “We have been keen to work with local schools and the university on a number of innovative projects.
“The Mentoring Project has proved to be extremely beneficial to both school and university students in helping share invaluable knowledge and exploring the opportunities available in creative media.”
This year’s ceremony returns to Manchester on Friday October 27. Ahead of this an Official Shortlist Announcement will take place on Monday September 18.
The awards celebrate journalism, television, radio, online, theatre, creative media and marketing. Five special awards will highlight the work of actors, journalists, writers and broadcasters who have helped to define the media landscape with their outstanding work.
The 2023 AMA ceremony Premier Partner is the University of Salford.
