Students from Elm Court School in Lambeth worked with their teacher, Chris Lloyd, on journalism skills as part of BBC School Report. A mixed group of Year 7 and 8s studied news stories and learned how to put a radio broadcast together.
One story that caught their attention was a piece in the news about a survey run by Random House Books. The publishing company ran a poll with parents that showed many parents believe children are growing up too fast, in contrast to their own upbringing. More than half of the 1170 parents asked thought that childhood was over by 11, a view endorsed by Dame Jacqueline Wilson, who believes teenagers are much more likely to be involved in behaviour such as under-age drinking, or sleeping at boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s house, than would have been possible in previous generations. Students at Elm Court looked at this story, and discussed their own ideas.