School Podcast Triumphs Over Professional Broadcasters
A podcast produced by pupils at Holy Cross High School in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, has outperformed professional broadcasters to win a prestigious award.
The Reading Cafe features students discussing literature and interviewing authors, musicians, and other cultural figures about books and .
Established five years ago, the podcast was created by Peter Kelly, an English teacher at Holy Cross High School.
Last week, The Reading Cafe received the Scotland's Emerging Talent prize at the inaugural Scottish Podcast Awards. Other winners included the football podcast Open Goal and the Ford & Shelby Show, hosted by Still Game star Ford Kiernan.
Notable Guests and Podcast Highlights
The podcast has welcomed guests such as young adult author Emily Varga, comic book writer Mark Millar, and Stuart Murdoch, the lead singer of indie pop band Belle & Sebastian.
Peter Kelly, the podcast producer, spoke to BBC Scotland's Lunchtime Live programme about the award, describing it as a "huge honour, but thoroughly unexpected."
"It's a huge amount of extra work, but it does not feel like that because it is such a passion project for me,"
"It's wonderful being able to see a variety of young people being able to develop through the course of taking part. They come in with individual characters and passions, that then is shaped into potential futures, like jobs - but most importantly it's experiences they will never forget.
"That also brings in different flavours of what we cover, like, say sports journalism - it's catered to what that year's pupils are inspired by."
Inspiration and Educational Impact
The idea for the podcast originated from Kelly's desire to encourage children to talk about reading and develop an interest in literature. His goal was to "bring the excitement of reading to them."
This initiative quickly evolved to include interviews with authors, providing students with direct engagement with writers.
"You bring them face to face with writers and it shows them the possibility of being a writer.
"There's a common thread where authors say they didn't have the confidence to be a writer or maybe hadn't found the right access point until they came into contact who helped them find a way."
Student Involvement and Skills Development
Typically, about 15 to 20 pupils collaborate to produce each episode of the podcast.
As producer, Kelly assists students in preparing for interviews and researching their guests. However, he encourages them to improvise and follow the natural flow of conversations rather than adhering strictly to a script.
Many participants express interest in pursuing media careers, including journalism, podcasting, or social media influencing.
Kelly emphasized that involvement in the podcast equips students with valuable skills applicable to various future careers and helps them step outside their comfort zones.
"It helps develop confidence and a sense of themselves."
Live Broadcasts and Additional Opportunities
The Reading Cafe has conducted live broadcasts, including one at the Edinburgh Festival. Another notable event involved pupils interviewing children's and young adults author Ross MacKenzie about his career in front of an audience of Primary 7 pupils from nearby primary schools.
Members of the podcast team also have the opportunity to work towards a National Progression Award (NPA) in journalism. This includes learning from professional writers, editors, and photographers.
"I am fuelled by it. It's such a thrill to me, to give the kids these experiences."
The Reading Cafe podcast is available on multiple streaming platforms.
