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Pupils splash out £10,000 on poster ad

Susannah Wright
26/ 6/2008

PUPILS got a taste of the cut-and-thrust world of advertising by masterminding their own marketing campaign.

Students at Burnage Media College were given the task of dreaming up a way of increasing the profile of their school - with a five-figure budget.

The 15-year-olds, studying for a GCSE in media at the boys-only school, had to come up with slogans and graphics.

They also researched the costs of different advertising rates and designed and printed publicity material.

Their finished work now features on six huge billboards around the city, as well as bus shelters and buses on five major routes around south Manchester.

Students also set up a multi-media bus shelter which greets passers-by and broadcasts a `bluetooth promotional text message to nearby mobile phones.

The students involved were helped by professional marketing agency Perfect Circle.

Their campaign is being used promote the new media college status of the school, which has changed its name from Burnage High School for Boys.

Senior teachers had to think long and hard before giving the cash to the pupils.

Head teacher Ian Fenn said: "We did think twice before doing it.

"People talk a lot about giving students responsibility and we didn't want to just pay lip service to this.

"We gave them a budget on the scale they would have if they were advertising something for real. In fact, the boys surpassed themselves and showed great responsibility in their choices.

"This is the city’s first media college and this was a great way to let people know about it as well as giving our pupils experience of the industry."

Media teacher Jennifer Lawrence said the challenge had given her pupils a taste of running their own advertising agency. She said: "They have done everything from start to finish.

"Although we’ve been there to keep an eye on things and offer advice, they have had a lot of responsibility."