PUPILS at Iford Primary School got a taster of life as a broadcast journalist last week, when BBC Wiltshire’s Ben Prater joined them to record a podcast at Westwood with Iford Primary School.

Westwood Radio broadcasts daily from the school, which is located close to Bradford-on-Avon.

Headteacher Ian Rockey said the radio club gave pupils the chance to become “confident and resilient speakers” and also learn how to time jingles perfectly!

“We plan the show on Monday and go live on Friday - and a real buzz goes around the studio,” he said.

“We have listeners from 15 different companies and do real-time song requests, birthdays and messages. Everyone in the school gets a chance. We broadcast plays, poetry, all sorts of art.

“It’s so rewarding to see the children grow in confidence each week - they are learning to be resilient, professional and speak with authority.

Mr Prater, 40, from Malmsbury agreed. "To be honest, they seemed less nervous than I am when I open the microphone every morning on BBC Wiltshire,” he said.

"I really admire what Mr Rockey has done to let the kids get an insight into how fun radio can be.

"The children asked me what you need to do to be a professional broadcaster - I told them to keep on ask lots of questions, listen to the answers, be curious about what's going on where they live and to make sure that they enjoy themselves."