MINI-newspaper reporters and photographers have been buzzing round a Rawdon school in recent weeks.

The budding newshounds at Rawdon Littlemoor Primary School have been busy collecting material for the school's newspaper - Littlemoor News.

So far three issues have been printed and the 16 members of the editorial staff are now preparing for the next issue which is due to hit the presses after half-term.

Littlemoor News, which is being run by pupils, has three editors - Catherine Wilkinson, Tauras Collins and Rita Prajapati, all aged ten.

There are two reporters from each class with the exception of class 3J, who have three - 13 in all - who are responsible for a wide range of interesting news and sporting items.

At present Littlemoor News has a digital camera and scanner. It covers general news relating to the school and prints stories about the wildlife area at the school, sports and class work, both infant and junior.

The latest issue is full of interesting items including a report on the Autumn Fair by Stephanie Johnson of class 5L. Her short report is informative and lets readers know the fair raised £2000 towards the refurbishment of the library.

There is a wildlife update column by Andrew Black and William Child and a report and photographs of a holiday by year six in the Ingleborough area, written by Ben Vardy, James Smithson, Anna Blyth and Louise Cawood.

In addition there is a crossword, an item entitled Chuckles from the Classroom, a Poetry Corner with items by Faye Leadbeater (Santa), Amy Arnott (Holly), Rachel Sparkes, Clair Sykes and Laura Scrace (Christmas Time), Sarah Martin (The Christmas Poem) and Faye Leadbeater (Berries and their Properties).

A report, Compost Corner Clan, has been written by Scott Morrison and Thomas Considine (4L) and there is an Agony Aunt column.

The sports page has been written by Tauras Collins (football), Eddie Davey and Adam Bowden (cross country).

Children wishing to send greetings to a friend can do so by using the announcements column.

Reporters Jamie Bumby and Adam Bowden, both aged nine, said they enjoyed gathering news for Littlemoor News but were not sure whether they wanted to make a career out of journalism.

"We have been busy getting news and writing reports about things that have happened in school. We have also relied on other boys and girls giving us news," said Jamie.

Adam said they did not have reporter's notebooks but wrote down their reports in their school jotters. "I enjoy being a reporter," he said.

Catherine Wilkinson, 11, one of the editors, said: "We type out and check the reports from the reporters. We then choose which reports we want to use in the newspaper," she said.

She, too, says she is enjoying the work.

Teacher Sue Law, who supervises the publishing of 200 copies of Littlemoor News, said: "We have brought out three issues so far and they seem to be popular with both children and parents. We have tried to include as much information about the school and about the work the children are doing as we can," she said.

Head teacher Gary White said: "The newspaper is helping the children with all aspects of literacy. It means a lot of hard work but the children appear to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. They are finding it very interesting."

The reporting staff includes: Rachel Schofield, Laura Hudson (Y2), Richard Clegg, Sarah Martin, Conor Young (3J), Emma Howell, Steven Mitchell (3R), Jamie Bumby, Adam Bowden (4L), Stephanie Johnson, Joseph Mason (5L), Ben Vardy, Louise Cawood (5T).

Littlemoor News, which is to be produced each term, is sponsored by Mr M J F Firth, a parent.

l FOOTNOTE: Page 1 of the current issue features a picture of its staff taken by the Wharfedale Observer under the headline 'Littlemoor School scoops the 'Wharfedale'. Nice one, kids!

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.