SCHOOL pupils who turned journalists for the month of June have now released their own newspaper.

Youngsters from Wood Farm Primary School in Oxford found stories, interviewed members of the public and supplied the estate with its quarterly news through the community newspaper Wood Farm News.

Teachers from the school, in Titup Hall Drive, branded the project a “huge success” and the media group which publishes the quarterly paper hope to expand it to other areas of Oxford.

The junior reporters hit their deadline on June 26 and now the residents’ newsletter has hit the presses.

Year 5 and 6 pupils took part in the project Read All About It, which involved the children reporting on everything Wood Farm.

Former Oxford Mail journalist Sarah Edwards – who is now the group editor of the community paper – visited the classes and showed the children different interviewing styles and writing styles last month.

She also answered questions on why she became a journalist and how youngsters can aim to get into the business.

She said: “I think the children did really well. They met their deadline and the stories in it were great. They conducted interviews and did a really good job. The teachers worked really hard too.

“There may be a few journalists in that year — the feedback has been really good.”

The aim of the project was for children to work in groups and write various different types of features, news articles, as well as some fictional stories.

The newspaper featured stories about the visit of birds of prey to the school and described an art exhibition collated by the children.

A school trip to the Royal Albert Hall in London was reported on and a picture special of ‘A year in the life of Wood Farm School’ featured as a two-page spread.

Year 6 teacher Hannah Barton said the project went well and that there was a possibility of pupils becoming regular contributors to the community paper.

She added: “We will definitely look to do something like this annually.

“It was good for the children to write and learn about different professions out there.

“The school is always looking to be involved in the wider community and this was a good opportunity to do that.

“I must thank Sarah and the community paper for all their help.

“They’ve been great and made sure the paper was printed earlier so that the children could all have a copy to take home before the summer holidays.”