RADIO listeners across the country will find out how a special school is using poetry to help its pupils learn a host of subjects.

A scheme at The Meadows School, in Spennymoor, is the subject of a programme to be broadcast on BBC Radio Four.

The school's 49 pupils, who have emotional and behavioural difficulties, have been working with poet and writer Andy Croft for almost two years.

He said the children, aged 11 to 16, had gained confidence, become more responsible and tapped into their imagination through writing poems.

The work has improved their literacy skills, and by writing poems about science and other subjects, the whole curriculum has benefited.

Mr Croft said: "Poetry is a good way of finding the writing and creativity that is inside them."

When freelance broadcaster Caroline Beck, of Wolsingham, heard about Mr Croft's work she decided to spend a week at the school making a programme to be broadcast on March 13, at 11.30am.

She said: "I hope my programme will not just highlight the work of the school and Andy but change a few perceptions about what these young people can achieve."

Fourteen-year-old John Bagnall, editor of a poetry book the school is working on, said: "I hope listeners end up thinking that The Meadows isn't a bad school, just the kids don't always find it easy to learn in a normal classroom."