The BBC visits Cromer Academy!

Students at Cromer Academy were lucky enough to have a visit from the BBC as part of their centenary celebrations. The BBC 100 Share Your Story project is an initiative that aims to build pupil’s resilience and confidence in storytelling, whilst introducing students to exciting careers within the BBC that they may previously have never considered, or even heard of.

Cromer Academy’s Year 7 - 10 welcomed host and BBC Radio 1 Extra presenter, Swarzy Mcally, and special guests Rosanna Skwarka, Rights and Business Affairs Executive and Amy Nomvula, BBC Norfolk Senior Journalist, who took to the stage for to share their stories, talk about their lives and how their journey led them to their current roles within the BBC.  

Rosanna Skwarka shared her story by telling students all about her struggles throughout school and post school, and how she struggled to find her place and know what she wanted to do, she went on to explain that after studying for various different career routes and changing her mind, she eventually applied to work with the BBC and how she never looked back. Similarly, Amy Novula shared with students how she found peace and comfort after moving to Norwich and securing her job with BBC Norfolk, after she escaped an extremely difficult start to life. Amy inspired students through her story and encouraged them to never give up, despite how tough things may feel.

Each session ended with a Q&A, where students asked lots of enthusiastic questions about how the guests got involved with the BBC, their school life and how they overcame periods of darkness in their lives. 

It was a great opportunity for Cromer Academy, bringing fun and excitement back into schools after so long without external visitors due to the pandemic. Students were shown various videos highlighting how the BBC have been storytelling for 100 years and encouraged to share their own stories through the BBC's Young Reporter Scheme. 

Danielle Clarke, Teacher of English said:

‘Students asked lots of questions, particularly as some are taking part in radio enrichment and found it useful to take notes for their articles.  The children really enjoyed the session, they listened to the stories brilliantly and were really absorbed by the way that everything was presented, they also loved how they were able to ask questions at the end and it was an American football with a microphone that they had to throw about!”

Read all about the BBC Young Reporter Scheme here.