BBC school report project
The resources on this page are designed to support teachers whose students are taking part in the BBC News School Report project.
School Report gives 12 and 13-year-olds around the UK the chance to make their own news reports at school and to publish them on their school websites.
Teachers and BBC journalists will be in the classroom helping students throughout the project, so the rules which apply to internet safety during School Report are slightly different to the rules which you would normally follow if you didn’t have the help of an adult.
CEOP and the BBC
The government agency, Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) are working with the BBC to help teachers and students stay safe online, and has produced this page as part of its Thinkuknow campaign for young people.
To find out how to stay safe when making your School Report news, have a look at the top tips below. (jump down). For more information about the School Report, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/schoolreport
Thinkuknow
Thinkuknow is the name of CEOP's resources for young people; they have been created as part of its Harm Reduction strategy. The programme uses three key messages:
How to stay in control online
Teachers putting their students' news on the internet will find the information on this website useful, and are able to order free internet safety resources from the teachers area at www.thinkuknow.co.uk for all pupils in their care.
Request training and materials
If you are interested in either booking training, or ordering some resources following receiving the training, then please ...
request training and materials
We wish to offer the interactive Thinkuknow programme and training to teachers and educational professionals. Not only will you have knowledge of online issues, but you will be able to deliver the presentation in every area and region in the UK. CEOP will provide you and your team with the training required—this will cover the whole presentation, and the necessary child protection information. There will be a script for you to use, as well as pre written notes—all you’ll need is practice!
Top tips for students creating School Report news:
01Only use students' first names and ages in your School Report news reports, including your own name and age. E.g. Written by Lemi, 13. Be careful not to reveal any other information about yourself, such as the street where you live or the park where you hang out.
As you will be putting your reports on your school website, there may also be some other rules you need to follow. Check with your teacher.
Get more information about what you can and can’t put in your School Report news.
CEOP also advises you not to link to the School Report web pages from any websites where you may have your own space, such as Bebo or My Space.
02Only use photographs for which you have permission. If you use your own photos, you can give yourself permission! If you use someone else’s photographs, including ones you find on the internet, you need to make sure they know about it and are happy with how you are using them.
Only use pictures you’d be happy for your mum to see. Anything you wouldn’t like to be passed round the dinner table is something you certainly wouldn’t like passed round the internet.
Check who is in the photo too. Do they know you’re going to put their picture on the internet? If they’re under 18, their parents will need to sign a permission slip first. That means you too! If you want to upload a picture of yourself, your parents also have to sign a slip. Check with your teacher who you can take a picture of.
Get more information about using photographs in your School Report news.
03Make sure what you report is true. Reporting something of which you can’t be sure is unfair, and it’s also against the law. Just because you see, hear or read something in a newspaper, a website or a news programme, it doesn’t mean it’s definitely true. Don’t spread a rumour—check out the facts first. It’s often difficult to get to the truth about a crime, such as murder—that’s why judges and juries spend all that time in court—so it’s safer to avoid reporting crime stories.
Get more information about reporting the truth in your School Report news.