News

School launches new TV network

8 Oct 2008

A Riverside school is the first in Worcestershire to enjoy the benefits of its own television network following the launch of the Life Channel throughout the building.

 

St Stephens C of E First School paid for the channel out of its own budget after the idea was discussed with the governors.

 

The television channel which carries content based on health and well being, is usually broadcast in doctors' surgeries but has recently been launched in several schools across the country as part of a pilot scheme.

 

St Stephen's headteacher, Kathy Scan, said: "You can have quotes from Ofsted on there, photographs of the children and a ticker tape running along the bottom with urgent news on. I could see the potential of it as a way of facilitating communication with parents. We've got two screens, both facing out through a window to the outside. We're trying to provide shelter and seating for the parents close to those screens."

 

For older children, the programming on the channel is catered towards the pupils, but for a first school like St Stephen's the emphasis is being placed firmly on communication with parents, and this version of The Life Channel means that a lot of information which might have gone home in letters could now be made available on the screens for parents collecting children.

 

Kathy added: "It's not aimed at the children, but children will be able to access that area at play time and lunch time. We're specifically targeting parents, to get them more involved and to let them know what's going on in school."

 

The Life Channel was launched at St Stephens First School on Friday, October 3.