Students at Spalding Grammar School have launched their own radio station.
Tower Radio is broadcasting online at www.towerradio.co.uk after being set up during the last school year.
It was partly the idea of headteacher Steven Wilkinson who, for one of his last acts in the role before moving on, officially opened its offices.
The equipment was bought after fundraising by the school’s Parent Friend Association but it was left for the students themselves to set it all up.
The core group of Connor Clarke, 17, Damian Robinson, 15, Charlie Booth, 14, and Harry Walker, 17, who has been appointed station manager, built their own Tower Radio website with art students getting involved with the design.
A storage cupboard in one of the grammar school’s towers has been turned into the studio while the pupils also designed their own computer programme to run the station.
They would have had to pay £400 for such software otherwise.
Even in the school holidays the station is online with shows produced and presented by the students available as podcasts which are also available on Spotify and Apple Music.
They’ve received help from both Endeavour FM in Boston and De Montfort University in Leicester, spending time in their radio studios.
The former in particular are keeping a keen interest in the pupils as they develop their skills.
“We’ve learnt most things ourselves,” said station manager Harry. “It’s been a case of trying different things and seeing what works.
“We’re looking forward to teaching more of the youngsters in the next year.
“It’s been a brilliant thing to be involved in.”
Ideas for the future include a PE podcast, one for the game Dungeons and Dragons and a karaoke release on top of the Castaway shows where students have spoken to teachers about their lives and music loves.
Mr Wilkinson said: “For years I’ve thought about having something different in the school.
“I’d done a bit of research on a school radio and then one day Jane Chiappino came in and suggested it.
“It’s wonderful to see what the students have achieved even in the first year while setting it up.”
“I think what the students have already done even exceeds our expectations for it,”
Mrs Chiappino, higher level teaching assistant, said: “We really wanted to set it up before Mr Wilkinson left as it’s nice to have as a legacy.
“I think what the students have already done even exceeds our expectations for it.”
“It was all set up for our open day this year and we know of at least one person who said they wanted to come here next because of the radio station.
