Pupils from Plockton High School recently won a BBC award for news reporting.

The youngsters took part in the BBC News School Report and were highly commended – they travelled to BBC Television Centre to receive their award from Newsround’s Adam Flemming on Friday, 16 May 2008.

Mark Byford, Deputy Director-General of the BBC was also present and congratulated the pupils for all their hard work.

Duncan Ferguson, Rector of Plockton High School said,

“We are delighted that our students in the Gaelic Medium class have had this opportunity to be involved in the BBC News School Report.

“Our Students greatly appreciated being invited to BBC Television Centre in London and I feel that this was an important recognition of the central role of the Gaelic language in both education and broadcasting.

“Our pupils were the envy of their peers, when they regaled them with their stories from their excursion to London.”

On the 13th March 2008, School Reporters aged 12 & 13 from nearly 300 schools all over the United Kingdom showed their skills in producing a news bulletin. Of those taking part, twenty six schools attended the BBC Television Centre in London for the award ceremony celebrating their achievements. Plockton High School was the only school representing Scotland.

As part of their prize the pupils received a tour of BBC Television Centre and saw the different studios and the busy newsroom. They also got to meet Jake Humphrey from Sportsround and Lizo Mzimbo who used to work on Newsround.

Plockton High School pupils produced their report bilingually, in both Gaelic and English, with help from James MacDonald from BBC Radio nan Gàidheal. The school received funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the Gaelic Development body charged with promoting and growing the Gaelic language and culture, to go to London to receive their award.

Any schools wishing to find out any more information or to enrol in next years BBC News School Report should visit the website – www.bbc.co.uk/schoolreport The BBC would also like to get more schools with Gaelic involved in the project.

For more information and pictures from the awards contact: Chrisma MacDonald, Plockton High School, Plockton, Ross-Shire, IV52 8TU, Tel: 01599 530 800.