PSRE lessons for a group of lucky year 10s were given added depth and interest this year as they undertook an exciting and innovative approach to their study of other faiths.

The students were researching all aspects of Islam and it was decided that they would produce a CD recording their findings.

A BBC producer, Julia Letts, kindly offered to help and visited the school, bringing with her the necessary recording equipment for the students and instructing them how to use it. The students practised in their own time, and in PSRE lessons and, when they were confident, several Muslims from a Birmingham mosque were invited into school and interviewed.

The students asked some searching questions about the history of Islam and its place in the modern world, and were given informative and illuminating answers. Everyone benefited from the experience; the students found that speaking to practising Muslims dispelled many of the myths they had assumed to be facts and the visitors themselves were pleased to respond to the probing questions put forward by the students.

A good rapport was established and the students returned to their project with a deeper understanding.

At the invitation of the Central Mosque, the students travelled to Birmingham where the Iman gave them a guided tour, explaining the meaning and function of different areas of the mosque. Following the tour, the Imam graciously agreed to be interviewed and met their eager questioning with patience and humour.

The students were then taken to the main Prayer Hall where they watched the 1pm prayer time before returning to school, weighed down with their recording equipment.

Back at school, the budding producers collated all their material - cutting, splicing and editing until they were satisfied with the content and quality, before burning it onto a CD.

"We now have a fantastic teaching and learning resource," said Miss Poole, who is proud of the students' achievement.

"The fact that it has been totally produced by students means it is very accessible as well as very relevant. And as an added bonus, not only did the pupils learn much about Islam and its teachings, they also learned a lot about the media and technology."

The project was so successful, Miss Poole is considering repeating the exercise next year, concentrating on different religions.

"As Britain becomes more and more multi-cultural, it is extremely important that we increase our understanding of the part religion plays in different cultures. As our understanding increases, so will our respect and tolerance," she added.

By Richard Wooldridge