The award-winning GNM Education Centre, funded by the Guardian Foundation, runs a range of workshops, conferences and events in its dedicated space in the Guardian's London offices. In September this year (2014), the centre will have welcomed almost 100,000 visitors since it opened in 2002. The statistics for this year alone illustrate the impressive range and volume of activities that take place in one room in Kings Place.
Programme
The core programme of daily newspaper and multimedia workshops are provided free to schools and colleges and groups attend from across the UK and beyond. Taking part in the centre's workshops gives participants real life newsroom experience. They get to choose, research, write and edit stories and then go on to create front pages or videos; they learn how editorial decisions are reached and how the news is made.
The work of the centre was recognised internationally in September 2013, when it took joint first prize in the World Association of Newspapers 2013 Young reader prize in enduring excellence. The judges commented:
This is amazingly impressive, important work by the Guardian to educate children on the workings of a media company and journalism in general. For 11 years, they have provided a great facility with a dedicated staff that offers a hands-on experience for free to student classes. That's a wonderful commitment.
Career path
The workshops have helped to set many aspiring journalists on the path to a media career. One participant, Libby Page, came to an Education Centre workshop in 2005 as a Year 9 pupil with her school from Dorset. She believes the experience inspired her to pursue a career in journalism.
Feedback from groups attending the centre illustrates how the media and journalistic skills gained from workshops are invaluable for teachers and students:
Excellent. Exceptionally informative, balanced and interactive teaching. Pupils were engaged and came away with a wider understanding of newspapers and editing.
Saint Benedict Catholic Academy, Derby
Absolutely brilliant. You have no idea what an amazing day these children have experienced and the skills they have gained. They have learnt so much and not just about newspapers and editorial, but teamwork too.
Fantastic! Fast pace, high expectations, which led to fantastic work being produced. This is one of the best educational visits I have been on. The children were engaged all day. Thank you so much!
Harlesden Primary, London
As well as supporting teachers with teacher conferences and seminars, the centre also provides online resources to help with the teaching of newspapers and news media.
The two days I've had at the Guardian this year are far and away the most interesting and inspiring INSET I've had in more than 20 years of teaching. Everyone seems so generous with their time and enthusiastic about what they are doing; one can't help coming away with reinvigorated passion to do one's own job better than ever. And, in case it isn't clear enough already, thank you, too, for making this happen.
Michael Padmore, Colchester College
With sessions for further and higher education groups and activities for adult learners and families the centre supports learning for people of all ages:
Thank you so much for welcoming my Arcadia students to The Guardian. They were particularly interested in the new and interactive ways in which the Guardian is telling stories. They found Maya Wolfe Robinson "charming, eloquent, and informative" and appreciated her tips on how to write for Comment is Free. Your suggestions on other ways they could contribute, such as Guardian Witness, Guardian Students blog and the various professional networks, were also very useful. So, from all of us, a huge thank you!
Veronique Mistaen, Arcadia Universities group
I would like to thank you for your time on the 6 August, it was such a great day and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Thank you all for arranging another terrific day at the Guardian for members of ODL.
Stacey Halls, Opening Doors London
The Centre also runs a number of activities with both editorial and commercial departments as well as with external media, museum and community partners. One highlight this year was a two-day workshop for aspiring young journalists with Channel 4's 4-Talent:
I'd just like to say thanks for the incredibly inspiring day yesterday at the Guardian. I can honestly say I went into the building feeling a little lost about what to do next, career-wise, and left with not only an abundance of knowledge, but also a plan! For this I will be forever grateful to you and the Guardian Education team and hope to see you around the office one day.
Rachel Ho
•The Centre is funded by the Guardian Foundation, who also support the work of the GNM Archives and exhibitions programme.
