A SCHOOL has introduced a computer system that it is hoped will revolutionise the way pupils learn.

Students at Staindrop Comprehensive School are revising for their exams using iPods and can send in homework from home.

Since September, the school has been working on its Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) - a website where pupils and teachers can access lessons, homework and support material.

Every student in the school has an account, which is tailored to the classes they take.

Teachers also have accounts, from which they can assign and collect homework, provide support materials to pupils and start debates on a forum.

The school has begun recording revision podcasts, which can be downloaded by pupils to listen to either on their MP3 players or on their computers.

John Sewell, an e-learning consultant and teacher who has been helping to develop the VLE, said: "Computers are the students' world now and we've got to try and take advantage of that.

"We've had a very good response from the kids in a very short space of time."

Year ten pupil Gian Power, who uses the technology to study, said: "It's better than the normal way of doing things because it's different to usual lessons and homework and it seems easy to use."

Headteacher Brian Kinnair added: "With so many high- quality learning materials being created over the internet, we feel that we must give our students every opportunity to access them in a secure managed environment."