VIEW FROM THE CLASSROOM
Giving young people a voice through a student-led podcast
Tell us about your school.
Judgemeadow Community College is an 11-16 school at the heart of Evington in Leicester, serving more than 1,100 students, and part of the Lionheart Educational Trust. Our school enjoys a long and proud history of serving a diverse, multicultural community locally and from across Leicester city.
Our mission at Judgemeadow is for our students, regardless of their backgrounds, to be the next generation of leaders in the community. We want to help our young people not only succeed academically, but socially, spiritually and culturally too.
What is the ‘In The Meadows’ podcast? ‘In The Meadows’ is Judgemeadow’s student- led podcast initiative, which sees student hosts taking the lead and interviewing guests to explore a wide variety of topics – ranging from scientific discoveries and study tips, to historical and cultural events.
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n this month’s View from the Classroom feature, Education Today speaks with Alex Grainge, Associate Principal at Judgemeadow Community College in Leicester, to find out more about how the school’s students are hosting their own podcast.
The podcast also sees our students meeting local leaders, helping them delve into the issues of most interest to their community. It has been running since 2022 and we currently engage around 25 students in the project, although we’re always getting new interest from students according to the featured topics.
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www.education-today.co.uk
How does the podcast work? Each month, our student podcast team identifies a guest and theme for the episode, producing a script and comprehensive episode outline. This includes brainstorming question ideas and delving into research to ensure that the information discussed in the podcast is accurate, whilst being entertaining and interesting for viewers. Preparations for the episode include communicating with the guest to find a suitable time for the recording to take place, as well as setting up the podcast recording equipment (including a camera and microphone) in the designated area. Once our student hosts have sat down with the guest for a lively and engaging discussion, the podcast team will then edit the episode and ensure it is high enough quality to be published online.
Of course, at each step, our students receive support and guidance from staff, but the core concept leading the podcast is that it should be driven by the students themselves, helping them acquire new skills and develop their independence.
Why was it important to introduce a school podcast?
At Judgemeadow Community College, we have five HEART Values – Happiness, Excellence, Ambition, Respect and Teamwork;
February 2025
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