The school podcast that beat the professionals to a top award

A podcast produced in a South Lanarkshire school has beaten professional broadcasters to land an award.

The Reading Cafe features pupils from Holy Cross High School in Hamilton discussing books and quizzing authors, musicians and other cultural figures about literature.

It has been running for five years and is the brainchild of Peter Kelly, an English teacher at the school.

Last week it took home the Scotland's Emerging Talent prize at the first ever Scottish Podcast Awards, with other winners including football podcast Open Goal and Still Game star Ford Kiernan's the Ford & Shelby Show.

Guests on the Reading Cafe have included young adult author Emily Varga, comic book writer Mark Millar and Stuart Murdoch, the singer with indie pop band Belle & Sebastian.

Peter Kelly, who produces the podcast, told BBC Scotland's Lunchtime Live programme the award was a "huge honour, but thoroughly unexpected".

"It's a huge amount of extra work, but it does not feel like that because it is such a passion project for me," he added.

"It's wonderful being able to see a variety of young people being able to develop through the course of taking part. They come in with individual characters and passions, that then is shaped into potential futures, like jobs - but most importantly it's experiences they will never forget.

"That also brings in different flavours of what we cover, like, say sports journalism - it's catered to what that year's pupils are inspired by."

Kelly struck upon the podcast idea out of a desire to get children talking about reading and interested in the subject, saying he aimed to "bring the excitement of reading to them".

This quickly led to interviews with authors being organised.

"You bring them face to face with writers and it shows them the possibility of being a writer.

"There's a common thread where authors say they didn't have the confidence to be a writer or maybe hadn't found the right access point until they came into contact who helped them find a way."

As producer he helps the children prepare for interviews and research their guests, but encourages them to improvise and follow the direction of an interview rather than sticking to a set script.

About 15 pupils work on each instalment of the podcast and Kelly said a number of students who take part are interested in pursuing careers in the media, whether as journalists, podcasters or influencers.

He added that simply taking part in the project gives the children skills for future careers, whether in the media or not, and that it helps take them out of their comfort zone.

He explained: "It helps develop confidence and a sense of themselves."

The podcast has already held live broadcasts, including one at the Edinburgh Festival, and another where pupils spoke to children's and young adults author Ross MacKenzie about his career, in front of an audience of P7 pupils drawn from nearby primary schools.

Members of the podcast team also have the opportunity to work towards an NPA (National Progression Award) in journalism, hearing from professional writers, editors and photographers.

Kelly added: "I am fuelled by it. It's such a thrill to me, to give the kids these experiences."

The Reading Café is available on various streaming platforms.