Our Year 8 reporters couldn't pass up the opportunity to interview BBC Business editor Robert Peston during his visit to the North East.

On discovering that BBC Business editor Robert Peston was on a two-day visit to the North-East, our Year 8 reporters couldn't pass up the opportunity to interview him for a news article on the recession that they have been working on as part of their BBC School Report project.

Mr Peston had recently experienced a grilling by MPs on the Treasury Select committee, as well as discussions with locals about his handling of the Northern Rock crisis, but he was more than happy to answer the questions our students had to put to him on Thursday 12th February at BBC Newcastle.

The interview, conducted by Amy and Chloe, covered a range of questions which probed Mr Peston about his views on the recession, his life as one Britain's top journalists and a included a few light-hearted questions to break the ice. One of the questions even grabbed a headline in the London Evening Standard: 'A reluctant hearthrob? Oh no, not our Robert'. The item related to the final question Amy asked, which was: "My mum thinks you're the modern-day Mr Darcy, what do you think?" The amused reporter describes the "uncharacteristic decision and directness" of Mr Peston's reply: "Your mum's a very insightful person."

As part of the visit to BBC Newcastle, the team got the opportunity to see the studios and production facilities before the interview took place. It was truly a student production with Ben taking control as producer supported by James on camera/sound.

A second team of student reporters were then out on Friday 13th to interview Steve Cram and Allison Curbishly at Gateshead Stadium. Again they are producing a video news reports, on possible funding cuts to our 2012 Olympic hopefuls. This interview was again student lead and probed the viewpoint of two ex- high performing athletes who now report on sporting events across the world.