Pupils learn TV tricks of the trade

A group of Year 9 students recently went to the ‘Think Big’ event at Donington Park, Castle Donington. At the event, students were invited to ‘think big’ about everyday challenges or issues they face and come up with creative products or services to address them. They then presented these to their peers.

Four Year 9 boys won the competition after confidently presenting their ideas to an audience of 200 people. The boys beat students from five other schools and impressed representatives from O2 and Young Enterprise.

Year 10 History students went on a tour of the battlefields of France and Belgium, including Ypres and the Somme. A 92-year-old war veteran wrote to the school praising their polite behaviour. Communication and events coordinator Lydia Bunting, said: “The school is immensely proud of the behaviour of the Year 10 group, with moments such as this, reflecting the good manners and thoughtfulness of Frederick Gent School students.”

The PE department took Year 7 students to a live filming of the Saturday morning TV show ‘Game Changers’ in London.

It is hosted by Olympic Gold Medallist Darren Campbell and features regular appearances from Sky Sports ‘Living for Sport’ Athlete Mentors as well as live studio demonstrations and skills sessions. The students, and initially unwilling staff, were involved in a relay wheel-barrow race at the end of the show, much to the amusement of the presenters and the audience. The students were able to take part in a workshop with the Sky Academy.

They discovered the ‘ins and outs’ of the filming process whilst also getting the chance to film their own Sky Sports News broadcast.

Afterwards the Sky team visited the school to film a larger group of Year 7, 8 and 9 students.

Lydia Bunting added: “This was a fantastic opportunity for the students to display their sporting skills and to help promote the school.”