A School Reporter records material for his news itemThe prime minister is just one of the many guests being interviewed by school pupils around the UK during the finale of a BBC project.
A School Reporter records material for his news itemTony Blair was quizzed about global warming by pupils as part of a BBC project involving more than 100 schools across the UK.
More than 100 schools from the Outer Hebrides to Jersey have been learning how to make TV, radio and online reports as part of BBC News School Report.
The prime minister told the children, who visited Downing Street for School Report News Day, that the government was doing all it could to tackle climate change.
As well as questioning VIPs, 12 and 13-year-olds will be reporting on the issues that affect them on a daily basis.
Other political leaders, including the Conservatives' David Cameron and the Liberal Democrats' Menzies Campbell were also interviewed, as were pop star Lil' Chris and John Challis, who plays Boycie in Only Fools and Horses.
Working to a strict deadline, students are completing their reports by 1400 GMT and publishing them on their school websites by 1600 on 22 March.
As well as questioning VIPs, the thousands of 12- and 13-year-olds taking part also reported on the issues that affect them on a daily basis, including bullying, crime and transport.
The BBC aims to link to their reports and bulletins, generating a UK-wide audience for their work.
Tough questions
BBC journalists are reporting on what schools are doing. News 24 is in Birmingham, BBC Breakfast is in Newcastle, Radio Five Live is in Leeds, Radio Four is in Cheshire and Newsround is in Hampshire.
During their meeting with Mr Blair, pupils from Coventry also raised the issues of Iraq, education and what the prime minister plans to do after he retires.
In addition, 39 local radio, 11 regional television stations, BBC Scotland, BBC Wales and BBC Northern Ireland are covering news-making activities around the UK.
Pardeep, 13, felt Mr Blair answered honestly and was "very approachable and talkative".
Webcast
Pupils also raised the issue of global warming with David Cameron and went on to question him about poverty.
A day-long programme - School Report LIVE - is being broadcast on the School Report website from 0900 GMT.
Among the tough questions facing Sir Menzies Campbell, 65, was: "Are you too old for the job?"
Presented by Ellie Crisell, from BBC News 24 and Newsround, it will feature live updates from a cluster of schools in Manchester.
Gang culture
It will also include TV reports from students around the country about the news stories that matter to them.
For those pupils without big interviews lined-up, popular topics included government plans to raise the school leaving age to 18, healthy eating, the row over size-zero models and crime and gang culture.
Ellie Crisell presents News 24 and Newsround
Ellie Crisell said School Report was an opportunity for the BBC
Ellie said: "It is a fantastic opportunity, giving students a real insight into how a newsroom operates.
Other schools looked at the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slavery act.
"The fact that their finished news programmes will be accessible from the BBC website is a real incentive."
Lois, 13, from Eltham Hill Technology College for Girls in London, reported how she is herself descended from slaves.
She added: "It also gives the BBC an insight into how 12 and 13-year-olds view the world around them, what kind of stories are important to them, and what they want from news.
A pupil at Chatham South School in Kent who helped secure half-price bus fares for pupils made the front page of its School Report website.
"It's a great opportunity for the BBC to find out what fresh new talent is out there.
And students at Lewisham City Learning Centre hosted a live weather forecast and predicted a chilly end to the week.
"Some of these students could be inspired to move into journalism after they've finished education, and we may end up benefiting from their expertise down the line."
BBC mentors
Highlights
Schools from the Outer Hebrides to Jersey learned how make TV, radio and online news stories for School Report and had to work to a strict deadline.
Prime Minister Tony Blair, Conservative Leader David Cameron, Liberal Democrat Leader Menzies Campbell, Scottish National Party Leader Alex Salmond and Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones are all being interviewed by "School Reporters."
Since September 2006, students have been training to become journalists, with support from BBC staff and resources on the School Report website.
The audience can also watch students question Happy Feet director George Miller and children's commissioner Al Aynsley Green.
The project allows students to develop literacy and editorial skills through all kinds of new approaches Huw Edwards
An hour-by-hour report of the day's activities follows students as they research, gather, script and broadcast the news.
The BBC, which sent reporters to many schools to cover events and act as mentors, aims to link to their reports and bulletins, generating a UK-wide audience for their work.
Breaking news
Huw Edwards, who presents on BBC News 24 and BBC One and is a former teacher, said: "The project allows students to develop literacy and editorial skills through all kinds of new approaches."
Emulating BBC journalists, students are preparing news items in advance and reporting breaking news on the day.
Presenter Ellie Crisell, from BBC News 24 and Newsround, hosted live updates from a cluster of schools in Manchester for School Report.
They are covering local news stories from their schools and communities as well as national stories. Some schools are linking up with partner schools in other countries to report international news.
She said it gave the BBC "an insight into how 12- and 13-year-olds view the world around them, what kind of stories are important to them, and what they want from news".
Huw Edwards presents the Ten O'Clock News on BBC One
BBC Director General Mark Thompson said the BBC hoped it would make all the students taking part "think about journalism, media and the big issues of the day in a new way".
Since September 2006, students have been training to become School Reporters.
With support from BBC staff and resources on the School Report website, teachers have helped pupils develop journalistic skills.
Huw Edwards, who presents on BBC News 24 and BBC One, has been imparting his reporting advice via a series of online videos embedded into lesson plans on the School Report website.
Huw, a former teacher, said: "The project allows students to develop literacy and editorial skills through all kinds of new approaches.
"Any exercise that allows young people to develop these tricky skills in a fun, challenging environment has got to be worth it."
