Learn more about KWN

Exciting Video and Life Skills Programme for Secondary Schools
Panasonic KWN is a bottom-up video and life-skills programme empowering secondary students in five continents. At no cost to schools, the programme provides state-of-the-art video-production equipment and training for the development of School Video News Teams.

679 Schools in 26 Countries
Beginning with two schools in the USA in 1989, the Panasonic KWN programme has grown to support 679 schools in 26 countries. This year, almost a hundred schools have taken part across Europe including 14 in the UK.

KWN ‘Oscars’
On Wednesday 4th May 2011, students from across the UK gathered at The Assembly Rooms, Derby for the 2011 National Awards Ceremony. The video-making teams competed for six major awards along with the chance to represent the UK in both the European and the Global finals.

The day was a chance for the student teams to view their competition entries on the big screen and take part in a series of collaborative creative tasks.


All activities supported the themes of this year’s films: ecology and communication. Entertainment took the form of live music provided by musicians from participating schools. In short: the day was a real opportunity to showcase young talent from the UK and The Assembly Rooms rocked with infectious energy. The afternoon ceremony crackled with tension as teams waited to hear the results and were overjoyed when the following was announced:

• Best Pictures and Sound – Ryburn Valley School
• Best Reporting Team – Leasowes Community School
• Best Learning Journey – George Dixon School
• Best Global Citizenship – Knox Academy
• Best Story-telling – Testbourne School
• Grand Prix 2011 – Testbourne School

All students personally received a certificate from a senior Panasonic representative.

The Grand Prix 2011 Winners!

The quality of the UK videos this year was truly world outstanding. Over the past five years, UK teams have won major European and Global awards, involving two schools travelling to Japan to take part in glittering ceremonies. A truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.

This year, Testbourne School’s fantastic entry, entitled ‘B is for Apples’, stood out and deservedly took the Grand Prix Award. The team will be travelling to Hamburg for the 2011 KWN European Awards on the 20th May to compete for the prestigious global title.