Ravens Wood BBC School Report 2014

Students from Ravens Wood school will be making the news for real on 27th March 2014 as they take part in BBC News School Report. We aim to publish the news by 1600 GMT on the News Day, so please save this page as a favourite and return to it later. The RWS BBC School Reporters filmed a follow up report on the work that our school has done with CRY to raise awareness of heart screening following the tragic death of former student Ben Daniels.

A Pleasant Surprise

One year on from our last BBC School Report, Ravens Wood School is still flying the standard for Cardiac Risk in the Young. On the morning of the 11th of March, we had a very exciting visit from one of CRY’s most famous patrons, Pixie Lott. 

Right from the outset, it was clear this was to be an assembly like no other.Her performance to unsuspecting members of year 11 and the sixth form featured three songs, including her new single ‘Nasty’, a Q and A session, and even an opportunity for interviews. 

In a brief interview after the performance, Lott said ‘As a young person it’s important to spread the news to other young people, because it is a charity that not as many people know about.’ 

Lott had the excited students dancing in their seats, and in some cases out of them, whilst bringing an important message to the young men.Sadly, 12 young people under the age of 35 die every week due to cardiac health problems. 

These problems often go unnoticed, which is why is has become such a problem. CRY was set up to change this by raising awareness of cardiac health and facilitating heart screenings, such as those that Ravens Wood host every year. They also go into schools and hold talks and assemblies about why cardiac health is important.

As a patron of the charity, Lott has supported CRY in a range of different ways, including a piece in The Daily Mirror on Fabrice Muamba’s collapse in 2012, performances at schools and a clothes sale, the proceeds of which went to CRY.

Other people involved in the work of CRY were present at her performance. Chief Executive of CRY Alison Cox and Paul Daniels,  father of Ben Daniels the Ravens Wood student who tragically collapsed on the football pitch and died in hospital due to heart failure, were all present. ‘...CRY raises awareness that just because you’re young and fit and healthy, that if you want to you can be screened for your cardiac health.’

It was very encouraging to see such a positive response to such a serious topic. The fact that the young people in the assembly recognised something that can and will most probably affect them at some point with a cheerful attitude will cement an optimistic view of cardiac health in their minds.

Students and teachers in attendance thoroughly enjoyed the performance, and it's sure to be an assembly many will not forget.

Ravens Wood and Hollybank - A New Partnership

It’s always good to see young people helping their local community, and Bromley is no exception. Three year eight and nine students from Ravens Wood School, with the aid of sixth former Tyler Lewis Kilden, took some filming equipment to Hollybank, a centre for children with special needs, to film a promotional video for the centre.

The students in question, Ryan Harris, Elliot Minto and Sean Savva, were asked by Hollybank's director, Amanda Rees, to film a video promoting the centre that would be distributed on DVD to Bromley residents. The boys were only to happy to oblige.

Upon arrival they were given a briefing by Amanda on the aims of the video, some good places to film for the video, and lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. They were also briefed on the levels of sensitivity to apply to some of the situations that the filming process would entail and the behaviors and mannerisms of some of the children they would meet.

After this, they proceeded to film as many of the facilities as possible, which included a soft-play area, a specialised computer room and a sensory room, in addition to some of the bedrooms that the children can rest in during their stay.

After a brief lunch break, they used their art room to film some interviews with staff, children and parents of Hollybank. One parent said ‘The fact that one school is linked to another area in the community with such value and worth it a terrific thing to know about.’

Hollybank is for children aged 5 to 17 years with disabilities, complex health care needs, autism and challenging behaviour. In an interview with Amanda, she said ‘The best part of Hollybank for me is that it’s a service that’s available for all the children in Bromley who have a disability, and it offers help to the children and to the families.’