Thursday 4th June 2009: Radio in Schools and Heart breakfast’s Bush, Troy and Paulina are launching a city-wide competition to find the very first Heart Breakfast Weather Kid on Monday June 8th 2009.  

The popular trio are so tired of news presenter George Painter making mistakes on daily weather reports, they are looking for a brand new weather presenter from Bristol schools to replace him for the day. The winner will be invited live into the Heart studios to read the weather LIVE on Monday 29th June between 7am-9am, for the whole city to hear.

To get started, all teachers across Bristol are invited to attend the Heart Podcasting Masterclass on Monday June 15th from 5pm – 6pm at the Heart Studios, where they can learn how to create simple radio shows and podcasts using Radio in Schools. Teachers can then go back into class and create weather reports with their students and send them in for judging by Bush, Troy and Paulina. To register, simply email info@radioinschools.co.uk now.

Paul Andrew, Programme Controller of Heart Bristol said:
“We are really excited about our Radio in Schools project and the launch of this new competition to find our very first Heart Breakfast Weather Kid. Heart Bristol wants to help make Bristol a better place and support our next generation of listeners. Radio in Schools and the Weather Kid Competition help to make this a reality.”

Radio in Schools is a national podcasting platform that promotes speaking, listening and creativity for the download generation. It provides teachers and pupils a safe platform to showcase their work, space to store files and strong links to the professional radio industry. Schools can showcase the best podcasts on their very own Radio in Schools home page, link these to their school website, as well as engage parents and local communities. 

Melissa Thom, Director of Radio in Schools said:
“The search for the Heart Breakfast Weather Kid is a fantastic opportunity for our next generation of talent and listeners here in Bristol. Together with Heart, Radio in Schools aims to help schools, teachers and students develop speaking, listening and communication skills with really exciting and engaging experiences. We can’t wait to hear the reports, podcasts and radio shows from local schools”.

Two Mile Hill Primary School have been running the project in school since October 2008.
Jill Marsh, Head Teacher said:

“Radio in Schools is a really useful tool because it gives the children a real reason to go back to a piece of writing and keep editing and improving it. The website and the Virtual Studio are simplicity itself, and the children really do feel like they are working in radio. Having a safe platform to showcase the children’s work to parents and friends of the school is fantastic. Radio in Schools is a key tool in raising standards in reading and writing, and if this doesn’t help us to raise standards with some of our boys, I don’t know what will”.

Schools must be registered with Radio in Schools to create and submit their weather podcasts. They’ll also be able to access Lesson Plans, guides and top tips from the professionals at Heart Bristol. To find out more and to register your school from Monday 8th June, go to www.heart.co.uk