Press Release

21/7/2004

Pupils use digital technology to explore teenage issues

With the aid of digital technology, teenage issues - such as self-image, bullying, peer pressure and teenage sexuality - are being explored by a group of pupils at Andrew Marvell Secondary School in Hull.

'We thought this was an innovative way of bringing these issues to the fore,' said Keith Ranner who is Head of Art at the School. 'We may not like it but East Hull now has a reputation for being the European capital of teenage pregnancy, so anything we can do to get the right message across has to be worthwhile. In addition the pupils are learning new skills which may benefit them in their future careers.'

The project is being supported by Creative Partnerships, Hull and is led by Ultralab, a world-leading education and technology research centre based at Anglia Polytechnic University. Ultralab has been working with the school during 2004, developing the use of digital technologies in the creative arts as part of a project to create a new qualification called the International Certificate in Digital Creativity (ICDC). Representatives from Ultralab will be working at the school all week giving technical support and creating a 'Big Brother' style self-evaluation video log, recording their feelings directly to camera.

The group of 30 children are working in pairs to produce scripts and storyboards for a total of 15 two-minute films, complete with titles and soundtracks. While some address quite serious issues such as peer pressure, others have a more light-hearted Wallace and Gromit style approach. All the films will be shown at a special screening at the Odeon Cinema on Friday and some of them have been submitted for inclusion in the Hull Film Festival at the end of July. In addition a group of media studies pupils at the school have been making a documentary film of Art Week which it is hoped will also be ready to show at the Odeon.

Michelle Kent of Creative Partnerships said: 'We're really delighted to be supporting this project. The pupils have got so much out of it during the year and produced some fantastic short films. They have learned new techniques and had an insight into working in digital media.'

Notes for editors

Note to editors: There are photocall opportunities with pupils creating their films all this week up to the end of Thursday. To arrange a visit please contact the school on 01482 799132 and ask to speak to Keith Ranner in the Art Department.

Creative Partnerships:
Creative Partnerships is a national initiative which works to give school children throughout England the opportunity to develop their potential, their ambition, their creativity and imagination through sustainable partnerships with creative and cultural organisations, businesses and individuals. It is currently working in 25 areas, including Hull and has been given financial investment to roll out to a further 11 areas by 2006.

Ultralab:
Ultralab is Anglia Polytechnic University's learning technology research centre based in Chelmsford, Essex. The Centre works with children, teachers: students, companies and other researchers to develop new ways of learning that are supported by the latest technologies. Ultralab receives a wide range of visitors, individuals, companies and governments, from around the world. As well as running some of the UK's most ambitious ICT projects the Centre also houses the UK's National Archive of Educational Computing - a working museum and archive of the work already developed.

Contact details

For further information contact Sally Brown, Press Officer, Creative Partnerships, on 07950 870864 or 01484 683756.