A trail-blazing summer school for gifted children in Colchester will link up pupils by digital camera and the internet.

Nineteen youngsters from Sir Charles Lucas School, in Greenstead, Colchester, will take part in the revolutionary scheme.

They will attend a session when they will be told the project theme, then sent home with a teacher's laptop computer each to get to work.

When they come back after two weeks they will be ready to transmit a presentation live via digital camera and satellite to schools in Kent.

Sir Charles Lucas and St Anne's Primary teamed up with the Kent schools in April as part of one of the Government's Virtual Education Zones, which uses hi-tech learning to share best practice.

A spokesman for Sir Charles Lucas School said: "This is very exciting. The pupils taking part are among those who have performed exceptionally well over the last couple of years.

"It is the first summer school of its kind and paves the way for learning in the future."

A further 21 Kent pupils will be taking part at their end, by attending a summer school in Bromley.

All61 teachers at Sir Charles Lucas School have just got their laptops and St Anne's staff have already got theirs.

In due course they will be used to teach lessons of the future to schools in Kent.

A spokesman for Sir Charles Lucas School said: "Using web-based learning as well as sharing experiences over the web is a major change for education and in particular the way in which the curriculum is delivered.

"Pupils and staff need to be more aware of technology." and how to use it effectively and efficiently.

"This project is intended to help us deliver this objective and without Government funding to back it up would certainly not have proceeded at this pace."

Art school for Clacton talents

Clacton's first arts summer school for gifted children steps into the spotlight next week.

The project will give 40 youngsters the chance to write their own musical, record their own CD, make a video and design a website.

They will be working with West End stars, sculptors, video producers and sixth form mentors to stage their own production and make scenery and props. They will also be encouraged to write a script and compose songs.

This innovative and exciting two-week course for children from the 24 schools in the Clacton and Harwich Education Zone is being run at Clacton County High School.

Director of the project, Stephen Chamberlain, said: "This is an exciting new project. The action zone and the DFE have given us £9,000 to run this summer school as a pilot and it is aimed at children aged ten-13 who are in the top five to ten per cent with an aptitude for the arts as well."

And if the scheme is successful the zone will be applying for more money next year to repeat the project.

The children have come from junior and secondary schools in and around Clacton and Harwich. They have been nominated by their schools.

As the arts summer school is the only one in the area, it will be visited by a county education specialist who will monitor its progress and success.

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