Young journalists have been given a helping hand in their future careers by the Hull and East Riding Mail.

Assistant editor Paul Hartley handed a cheque for £3,000 to Cottingham High School’s media department.

The school was recently awarded media arts college status, and the donation will go towards a new music studio and media editing suite, due to open in February.

Paul told students and staff: “Now the Mail and the school are partners through the media college status, it would be nice to think that some time in the future our next John Pilger, Woodward and Bernstein or Kate Adie may come from this school.

“You will all have dreams, ambitions and goals. My advice is reach for those dreams, but don’t expect an easy ride, and you will be surprised what can be achieved by a little determination.”

Head teacher Tom Darbyshire said: “We have a good working relationship with the Mail. We are getting professional advice and training from the local media, which is very important to create career opportunities for our students.

“We also have agreements with the local media to provide work experience placements.

“Specialist status was given in September and it seems to be going very well.

“The students are very enthusiastic and we are creating new courses at GCSE and A-level in subjects such as film studies.”

The specialist status will bring around £900,000 in funding to the school over the next four years.

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