This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/school_report/7293563.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Party leaders facing a grilling Party leaders given a grilling
(about 2 hours later)
Gordon Brown said his reporters were "very, very good". Pic: Jeff Overs/BBCPolitical leaders are used to tough questioning from opposition parties and the press - but now they are being grilled by pupils aged 11 to 14. Gordon Brown said his interviewers were "very good". Pic: Jeff Overs/BBCPolitical leaders are used to tough questioning from opposition parties and the press - but now they have been grilled by pupils aged 11 to 14.
As part of the BBC's School Report News Day, students from nine schools have been holding the UK's top politicians to account.As part of the BBC's School Report News Day, students from nine schools have been holding the UK's top politicians to account.
PM Gordon Brown, Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg have all been put through their paces by the would-be journalists.PM Gordon Brown, Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg have all been put through their paces by the would-be journalists.
And Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley, Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond and Presiding Officer of the National Assembly of Wales, Dafydd Elis Thomas, are also all being quizzed. PARTY LEADERS FULL STORIES class="" href="/1/hi/school_report/7294138.stm">Brown praises Reporters class="" href="/1/hi/school_report/7293927.stm">Cameron - change and kisses class="" href="/1/hi/school_report/7294385.stm">Clegg talks EU and football Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley, Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond and the presiding officer of the National Assembly of Wales, Dafydd Elis-Thomas, are being quizzed.
Gordon Brown, interviewed at Downing Street by pupils from four different schools, tackled "very, very good" questions on subjects including education and the environment. Gordon Brown was interviewed at Downing Street by what he called "very, very good" reporters from four different schools, on a range of weighty and serious subjects including education, child poverty and the environment.
She's now happily married so I don't want to interfere in her life. So I'm afraid I'm not going to answer the question David Cameron, going coy about his first kiss He talked about how he wanted the whole country to make an effort environmentally, with changes such as using fewer plastic bags and less packaging, and using the standby switch less. One School Reporter, Francesca from St Andrew's School in Bedfordshire, found the prime minister surprisingly agreeable.
He also talked about his personal attempts to go green, including "offsetting our air journeys by buying carbon credits", and having a solar panel at his home. "I was really pleased, because I thought he might be a bit horrible, but he was actually very nice," she said.
Conservative leader David Cameron risked unpopularity by firmly telling youngsters from George Green’s School in east London that student university fees were here to stay. 'Not going to answer'
But he was less punchy when asked who was the first person he kissed. Conservative leader David Cameron also answered questions on a range of heavyweight topics including health, gang violence, and immigration.
"I think it would be a bit unfair if I said on live television," he said. David Cameron was stumped on a couple of questionsHe risked unpopularity by firmly telling youngsters from George Green's School in east London that student university fees were here to stay.
"Newspapers would rush off and find them, and they'd write a big story about this and that, and she's now happily married so I don't want to interfere in her life. So I'm afraid I'm not going to answer the question." But he was made visibly uncomfortable when the students focused on what he had been like at their age - with questions about kisses, being naughty and teddy bear names.
"I think it would be a bit unfair if I said on live television," he said when asked who was the first person he kissed.
"She's now happily married so I don't want to interfere in her life. So I'm afraid I'm not going to answer the question."
Ashdown picked for teamAshdown picked for team
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg was interviewed in his office at the Houses of Parliament by pupils from Banbury School in Oxfordshire.Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg was interviewed in his office at the Houses of Parliament by pupils from Banbury School in Oxfordshire.
He was asked questions on weighty subjects including the environment, Europe and citizenship. Nick Clegg said his interviewers had been "devastatingly effective"He was asked questions on weighty subjects including his recent management of his party over Europe, the environment, and citizenship.
But he appeared to think longest and hardest when asked who would be his star player, if he had to create a football team out of politicians - finally plumping for one of his predecessors, Paddy Ashdown.But he appeared to think longest and hardest when asked who would be his star player, if he had to create a football team out of politicians - finally plumping for one of his predecessors, Paddy Ashdown.
"In defence," he said."In defence," he said.
"He was one of the few politicians who knew how to kill someone with his bare hands, so that would probably be quite a good place to put him.""He was one of the few politicians who knew how to kill someone with his bare hands, so that would probably be quite a good place to put him."
David Cameron said some questions really made him thinkIan Paisley was questioned by students from the Boys Model School in Belfast. What about Gordon Brown?
The Northern Ireland first minister, who recently announced that he would step down in May, among other things reminded pupils that he had got into the Guinness Book of Records when he first started in politics, by fighting a seat with the largest majority in the UK - and winning. "Oh no, he'd be on the reserve benches if he's lucky."
Alex Salmond is going to do a live interview with students at the Bridge of Don Academy, Aberdeen, later on Thursday afternoon. David Cameron?
And students from Ysgol Y Gader in north west Wales will be interviewing Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas - which can be seen later here on the School Report website, or on BBC Wales at 1830 GMT. "He wouldn't be in the team."
'Where is our school?'
Ian Paisley has been questioned by students from the Belfast Boys' Model School.
The 11- to 12-year-olds didn't pull any punches Guernsey teacher Adrian Prowse The Northern Ireland first minister, who recently announced that he would step down in May, among other things reminded pupils that he had got into the Guinness Book of Records when he first started in politics, by fighting a seat with the largest majority in the UK - and winning.
Mr Salmond is being interviewed by students at the Bridge of Don Academy, Aberdeen.
And students from Ysgol Y Gader in north west Wales are interviewing Lord Elis-Thomas.
Elsewhere, School Report was mentioned in Jersey's parliament.Elsewhere, School Report was mentioned in Jersey's parliament.
And students at a school in Guernsey tackled the issue of funding delays for a new school building with the island's Education Minister Martin Ozanne.And students at a school in Guernsey tackled the issue of funding delays for a new school building with the island's Education Minister Martin Ozanne.
A team of Year 7 students asked the minister on the radio: "Where is our new school?"A team of Year 7 students asked the minister on the radio: "Where is our new school?"
"They were very brave," says teacher Adrian Prowse. "The 11 to 12-year-olds didn't pull any punches." "They were very brave," says teacher Adrian Prowse.
The full story of how the interviews went will appear here on the School Report website, at lunchtime. "The 11 to 12-year-olds didn't pull any punches."