PUPILS have been rounding off their year with an action-packed week of activities.

Model aircraft flying, five-a-side football, tennis, cycling and golf were some of the activities arranged for the 600 students at Blackfyne Comprehensive School in Consett, County Durham.

Go Kan Ryu sensei Chris Brierley took students through their paces in karate, while former pupil Ben Johnson, 16, showed off his control line model aeroplane skills.

Ben is presently leading junior in the British combat flying championships, with the prospect of going to the USA next year as part of the British Model Aeroplane team.

Another group of pupils took part in Panic Mechanics _ designing and building flywheel-powered drag racers.

Deputy head Andre Szpak said: "The event was arranged by my fellow deputy Christine Park, with the intention of offering a broader social education.

"The idea was to take the pupils out of the normal routine of the classroom and showing them this is something else they can do at little or no expense.

"It was a nice way to end a hard year working to improve standards."