Student magazine celebrates independent thinking

A NEW era of student journalism has arrived at RGS with the launch of an academic student magazine.

The Clocktower, led by editor Annabel Cochran, has been created to showcase independent research, creativity and intellectual curiosity across the school community.

Budding journalist Annabel, who has received an offer to study English at the University of Oxford, said the idea for the project first emerged when she joined RGS for sixth form after previously being heavily involved in student journalism at her former school.

“Starting the Clocktower magazine was an ambition when I first came to RGS,” she explained. “Student journalism was a big part of my life at my previous school and I knew how enjoyable it had the potential to be for students, so I really wanted to bring that same opportunity here.”

Although the finished publication has just recently been launched, the process of creating it, with an editorial team including Manya Rajeeva and Nancy Manners, took two years of determination and organisation. 

Annabel described the challenge of spreading awareness, recruiting contributors and assembling a creative team capable of producing a polished final magazine.

“It’s been a difficult two years,” she said. “Getting the word out among students, finding willing writers and only this academic year recruiting a lower sixth form student, Manya, to head the graphic design team have all been challenges. However, I haven’t regretted a single second.”

One of the magazine’s defining features is its structure around four themed sections - The Artist, The Thinker, The Scientist and The Inventor - a format designed to create cohesion while still allowing contributors the freedom to explore a wide range of topics and styles.

“In doing so, we managed not to restrict our contributors with themes that were too limiting, but also give the magazine wider cohesion,” Annabel said.

The result is a publication containing an eclectic mix of articles, artwork, photography and puzzles. Contributions span subjects as varied as the pandemic-era construction industry and the mural art of Mexico, reflecting the broad academic and creative interests of RGS students.

Annabel hopes the magazine will provide opportunities beyond those already offered through extended project qualification (EPQ) and essay competitions.

“It’s an academic journal that gives people the opportunity to carry out and condense independent research in a way that EPQs and essay competitions don’t,” she explained. “It means students can stretch themselves beyond typical extracurricular opportunities.”

The magazine has also drawn inspiration from the Shine School Media Awards, a national competition for secondary school students, whose framework helped shape the publication. 

Despite this, Annabel insists recognition is not the project’s main focus.

“All I hope is that we have started a long tradition of student journalism here at RGS,” she said.

Producing the first edition required careful budgeting, said Annabel. With support from the school development fund, the team was able to print 25 professionally produced copies for just under £150 and Annabel hopes fundraising efforts will expand the number of copies available for further editions.

The future of the magazine is already being planned. Manya intends to continue leading the design side of the publication, while the team is actively searching for a new editor-in-chief to oversee next year’s edition. Students interested in becoming involved are encouraged to speak to head of English Mr Johnson.

Copies of Clocktower can be borrowed from the school library.