Schools are actively signing up their students for the Young Reporter Scheme short course, which is being launched now in readiness for the start date at the beginning of January. This is a four month journalism programme for students from school years 10 to 13.

Similar to the full programme, students have to write one article per month and every article is published on Newsquest’s range of online newspapers. This gives students the opportunity to build a portfolio of published work for use with their CVs and UCAS applications.

Because this programme is shorter in time than the full course, which starts up every September, it allows those schools who have not been involved with this programme, to do a four month taster from January to April.

By participating in this course, they are not just learning theories but are actively engaging in the world of media, improving their writing skills, honing their research skills and writing articles that potentially can impact a real audience.

Liz Poole from Headington School, who took part in the scheme for the first time last year, said: “All the students were really engaged by the short Young Reporter Scheme, so much so they came to me personally at the start of the academic year to secure a place on the full scheme. It was great to see how this extracurricular endeavour had fired their imagination and interest.

“I would highly recommend this course to any educational practitioner looking to build their students’ independent learning, tenacity and commitment. This course goes beyond development of students’ communication skills, fostering skills which are invaluable in the workplace and in life generally.”

Charlotte Nairac, Assistant Head of Sixth Form at Chigwell School, added: “It’s great way of getting an authentic insight into journalism and the independent nature of it is a particular strength – students pursue their own interests and work to non-negotiable deadlines which replicates the real-world experience well.”

For those who are keen to pursue this type of career, the scheme can fast track students onto our 4 year degree apprenticeship programme, which is open to all students from 16 plus, who are no longer in full time education.

Ezekiel Bertrand, one of the Young Reporters from last year and now involved in the apprenticeship programme, said: “Doing the YRS really opened up my love for journalism and news reporting. I wasn’t always sure what I wanted to do after my exams, and now I couldn’t be happier with the choice I made of becoming an apprentice in Newsquest and it all roots back to doing the YRS.”

To register for an information pack, please visit www.youngreporter.co.uk/registration