It's Academic

In Week 3 this term, some students in Year 5 and 6 were contestants in the Channel 7 TV show, ‘It's Academic'.

We were invited by Channel 7 to take part. After a test of general knowledge, students were chosen for the six teams of three needed and two reserves. To get ready for the show these students watched episodes of the show and spent some lunchtimes practising the technique of answering quiz questions. Each student had to choose an area of interest for ‘Spotlight' questions which they had to research. Their topics ranged from local and international football teams to prehistoric animals.

On the day of filming, the contestants and 20 audience members from 5/6KY and 5/6P boarded a bus at 6.30 am to travel to Channel 7 at Mobb's Lane, Carlingford. Five shows were filmed for the main season of ‘It's Academic' and one summer season show was then filmed.

Our students were very calm in all the lights on set and seemed to enjoy the day. Every contestant was given prizes as well as all students receiving drinks and food for morning and afternoon tea. It was a great experience.

The week of ‘It's Academic', the main series will be screened at 4:00pm on the week beginning Monday, 12^th October (2^nd week of the holidays) while our team competing in the Summer series will be seen on Friday, 18^th December. We hope you enjoy it.

What did our students gain from this experience? The saw the workings of a real TV station including the jobs and machinery involved. The audience enjoyed the day, learnt how to be silent when they heard 'All quiet on set!' and were able to take part in the games between shooting. The contestants found out about makeup, microphones and listening to questions given by Simon and answering within five seconds.

After filming from 7:15a.m until 4:15p.m we boarded the bus again and arrived at school after 5:00p.m. tired, happy and weary.

Mrs Pantel & Mr Kershaw-Young

Stage 3 Teachers