PUPILS have been given a greater voice than ever before thanks to a new radio station launched for all pupils.

Hanborough Manor School students tied in their annual sports day with the official unveiling of their new radio station on Thursday last week, which they will now be able to use each week to play songs, read the news and even broadcast a special feature piece.

While children were sprinting the 100metres and taking part in the triple jump, other pupils and parents were admiring the new high-tech equipment, brought out to the field for the special day.

Deputy headteacher Ginny Bayliss said: "There are not many schools with a radio station. We were just looking at ways to give children a greater pupil voice.

"Also it would be nice to showcase work they have done and special projects."

The staff carried out some research to find another school that had a radio station, and took along some pupils to see how it operated.

They also visited BBC Radio Oxford, based in Summertown, to learn how a real radio station works.

The Long Hanborough school's PTA then raised £400 through events such as bake sales, quizzes and raffles, to go towards buying the equipment.

Mrs Bayliss added: "We wrote a script and decided to launch it on school sports day as all the parents would be there.

"The children seemed to just love it. They were all asking when the next one was. When I said we couldn't have one next week as the Year 6's were not here, they seemed a bit sad!

"The radio will be each week at lunch on Friday. Children will be able to listen to it while they eat.

"We will have three songs, a news flash about the school and a feature. For example the last one was an interview with the headteacher Miss Kerswell who was a former Olympian swimmer. "Which we thought tied in nicely with sports day."