We were very excited to welcome BBC Radio 1 and a fantastic range of guests who came to share their stories and motivate and empower our students.

We were very excited to welcome BBC Radio 1 and a fantastic range of guests who came to share their stories and motivate and empower our students on 15th May, as part of their 'Inspire ME' tour, ahead of the Radio 1 Big Weekend which is to be held in Middlesbrough.



The aim of the event was to illuminate opportunity, empower and motivate young people who aspire to succeed in the creative and sporting industries. Students spent an hour in the company of panel host and well-known Radio DJ Jordan North along with a panel of successful local people within the creative media industries, digital marketing, radio and television.



Inspiration came from former Macmillan student Matty Nixon, who is now a BBC Radio Tees sports reporter, musician Dylan Cartlidge, and Nicola Coaker, who works in music marketing and management. Each guest discussed their own life experiences and how they identified and created opportunities within their chosen sector. The panel also discussed overcoming personal challenges and hopes for the future and took questions from our students.



During the afternoon some of our most deserving and talented members of Year 10, chosen from a broad spectrum of academic achievement, sporting talent, personal development and performing arts prowess, spent two hours participating in a workshop creating a digital product in which to share 'My Story'. All students worked brilliantly and impressed our BBC visitors on the day. Thank you to BBC Radio 1 for the opportunity to be involved. Students who were lucky enough to get tickets can't wait for the Big Weekend at the end of May - not long to go now!