PUPILS at Hurworth School Maths and Computing College swapped their text books and calculators for yoga mats and meditation as they took part in a health day.

The students enjoyed a day away from lessons as they learned a new range of healthy activities.

The 135 year eight pupils chose from yoga, meditation, dance, keep fit, head massage, first aid and drug awareness, as outside speakers, including a monk, were invited to the school.

Every pupil was able to choose three activities and at the end of the day they gave presentations to the year group.

It was the sixth annual health day for year eight students.

Teacher Rita Rees said: "They had a brilliant day. It is something they remember the whole way through their time at Hurworth, the year tens are still talking about it.

"The students always go home exhausted, but they have had a good time."

A group of Polish students and teachers have been visiting the school as part of an friendship link. Two teachers and three students from Krakow, and three teachers and three students from Granada, Spain, are spending most of this week in the school and visiting the region as part of the EU funded Comenius programme. They also took part in a health day with the school's year eight pupils.

Arthur Berwick, head of modern foreign languages, said: "This has opened their eyes up to the notion of citizenship and learning about traditions in Spain and Poland."