High school's camera crew zoom in on national prize (From Warrington Guardian)

High school's camera crew zoom in on national prize

TOMORROW'S citizens have been making an impact today, by clinching top honours in a competition designed to encourage young people to think closely about the world around them.

Outside of lesson time, students from Culcheth High School's media group shot a short promotional video for the Peace Centre, in Westbrook.

And it tickled the fancy of judges in a competition run by the Active Citizenship Network, backed by a host of organisations, from the BBC to British Aerospace.

The camera crew - James and Julian Gerami, Sam Olly, Michael Searl, Daniel Brinney, Thomas Kidd, Peter Stirrup, Richard Connon, Paul Knowland and Lee Hughes - walked away with a regional media prize for their effort.

And in April, the Culcheth contingent will pit their creative wits against outfits from around the country in the event's national finals in London.

School spokesman Amanda Stevens said: "The overall project aims to give students active knowledge of shooting and editing film, and the power it can have over an audience.

"The group of students learned how to create a storyboard, camera technique, and the use of editing software.

"An expert also came and spent a day with them to develop their various production skills.

"The students worked in their own time, which they were willing to do, and the degree of motivation was amazing."

Meanwhile, as part of the Withington Avenue school's citizenship programme, youngsters have been rubbing shoulders with representatives of various agencies.

Magistrates, firefighters and youth workers have been invited to class, and recently members of the Community Action Team from Risley police station popped in to outline their role during a citizenship enrichment day.