PUPILS at Devizes School found out last week what it is like to chase a copy deadline when they entered the International Newsday Challenge 2002, sponsored by the Times Educational Supplement.

For the TES Newsday, pupils from primary, secondary and international schools are given 24 hours to produce either a finished paper or web-based journal, bringing into play their creative writing, IT and research skills.

For the winners, The Times offers prizes of PCs and a digital camera.

The 24-hour challenge for Devizes School's 25 year nine pupils was to put together a page of news on their website, using stories about school events and other local items which they felt were relevant to their readership.

Teacher Emily Holder explained that the aim of the day was for students to produce the work under real deadlines, using live news and writing for a real audience.

The pupils found the experience extremely valuable. They learnt to work as a team to meet the strict deadline and it increased their awareness how to write quickly and intelligibly under pressure.

The event also gave them an opportunity to practise their IT skills.