A DORSET school has launched a new internet-based radio station for pupils, staff and parents.

Pupils and staff at Bryanston School in Blandford Forum took six months to develop BRYRADIO, a dedicated and comprehensive radio station that provides a blend of entertainment, news, chat, podcasts and live music.

Sponsored by the Bryanston Parents’ Association, the station broadcasts 24/7 from the school's state-of the-art studio and is readily accessible from anywhere in the world.

Chris Mills, Bryanston’s Head of Design and Technology, who has overseen the development of BRYRADIO, said: “The national lockdowns have highlighted the value of effective engagement, interaction and communication for any school community and our new radio station has added an exciting new platform for everyone involved with Bryanston.

“The enthusiasm of the pupils for the new radio station has been tremendous and is providing them with a host of new skills, experiences and opportunities. It is also giving a new dimension for parental engagement, as all parents wherever they are around the globe can now always stay fully up to date with all activities at the school – from sports fixtures to live performances and all forms of extracurricular activities.”

The station broadcasts a wide range of music selected by pupils and staff, and the programme schedule includes six live shows on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays featuring music, news and gossip.

The weekend shows include live commentaries and reports on important sports matches and a round-up of all sports, concerts, plays and events, and a special Sunday Show which looks forward to the week ahead.

18-year-old pupil, Nathalia Johnson, said: “I’ve absolutely loved being involved in this project.

“Developing something that will be such a powerful communication platform for the entire Bryanston community from scratch has been really satisfying. As well as mastering new technologies and developing new skills, it has involved a lot of creativity and brain-storming.

"We’re really proud of what we have achieved and are very excited to see how the station develops in the months and years ahead, especially on the live performances front. What’s more we’re already in touch with a number of local businesses who may wish to advertise with us and have plenty of ideas for future programme content and guest interviews. We’re buzzing!”

BRYRADIO is run by a team of pupils across all age groups and is available through a downloadable app, through a smart speaker or from its own dedicated website. The app also enables listeners to send messages and interact with the studio.

Any local business that would like to advertise on BRYRADIO or to provide longer term sponsorship for the project should contact Bryanston’s Head of Design & Technology, Chris Mills, at cjm@bryanston.co.uk.