Pupils across Rhondda Cynon Taf are taking on the roles of presenters, camera people, clapperboards and of course, the stars of the show, thanks to a joint venture from the Sports Council for Wales and Media4Schools.

As part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s 5x60 programme – a Sports Council for Wales managed scheme which aims to get secondary school pupils in Wales more active, more often – youngsters from six schools across the county are being given the opportunity to try their hand at media production activities - with a sporting focus.

Philip Carling, Chair of the Sports Council for Wales, explains:

"This pilot project kicked off in RCT at the beginning of the autumn term and we have already made great in-roads into seeing some of the finished articles. The intention of joining forces with Media4Schools is to encourage more pupils across Wales to get involved in the 5x60 activity clubs that are being run in schools by producing a number of short films that highlight the benefits of being physically active and taking part in a variety of sporting activities.

"The short films being produced by young people in RCT are aimed at young people right across Wales with the finished films providing content for the 5x60 website. A variety of activities including girls football, kayaking, water polo, skiing and mountain biking have been the topic of filming. "

Media4Schools, a vocational learning-based media initiative that introduces a combination of TV programme production and enterprise for schools, is leading on the project and has been supporting the youngsters involved in the making of their own films.

Jenny Harris, Production Manager at Media4Schools, explains in more detail:

"Pupils and teachers are trained in media production skills and techniques and then supported and mentored on an on-going basis to produce a range of their own programmes, in this case, short films for the 5x60 website.

"Media4Schools is pleased to be working with the Sports Council for Wales to help young people use digital media in communicating the aims of the 5x60 initiative to their peers. With six schools currently involved and a total of 12 short films either complete or in production – some through the medium of Welsh – we’re really pleased with the success of the project so far."

Gethin Smart, 5x60 Officer at Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari, comments on the project and how the pupils at the school have taken to it so far:

"Two successful filming sessions have already taken place at Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari and the four chosen students from the school have taken to the project brilliantly. They have especially enjoyed the filming, scripting and coordination aspects of their roles and have shown real enthusiasm from the word go.

"We opted to film the final football game of the season, which went to a nail-biting penalty shootout, along with a girls’ football tournament. On behalf of the school I am delighted to be involved in the Media4Schools project and even more so with the fact that it has helped raise awareness of the 5x60 activities taking place at the school."

The cameras were also on hand to capture the launch of the 5x60 programme at Aberdare Girls School, which included a full day of activities including dodgeball, basketball and street dance, a kayaking session at Treorchy Comprehensive School, a trip to Pontypool Ski Centre with Tonyrefail Comprehensive and a snapshot of the In the Zone 2 programme at Porth Community School.