Shine news

In a busy academic year, which extracurricular activities truly make a difference: not just now, but when students apply to FE?

School newspapers, magazines and podcasts foster innovation, teamwork and ambition. They give students a platform, a voice and skills that stand out.

Here are the opinions that count: what three teachers said about the Shine Awards…

Everyone’s talking about podcasts. At the Shine School Media Awards this year, they were our fastest growing category. There’s no question: students who master them are building a serious advantage.

Podcasting teaches invaluable skills: research, storytelling, interviewing, editing and as the projects grow, how to build audience engagement. They are unique in today’s media for their immediacy and accessibility. Best of all, they are often cost-neutral. Students can create professional-quality podcasts using just their (or a parent’s) phone and apps like Anchor or GarageBand. At our 2025 awards, most schools shared their student podcasts on Spotify.

We all know that starting any piece of writing, whether it’s an article, report, or even a blog post like this, is often the hardest part. What’s the angle? What’s the structure? Where do you even begin?

At the Shine School Media Awards, we help solve this problem by providing a specific topic each year. This summer, we let students vote on next year’s theme from a carefully curated shortlist.

The results were clear: power dynamics and their impact on young people’s lives struck a chord with teenagers across the board.

Do you have a superstar student? The one who wants to start a podcast, or is always badgering you to join the ranks of your school magazine editorial team? Here’s the chance to give them – and their team – the recognition they deserve.