A GROUP of sixth-formers developed an innovative project to teach French to primary schoolchildren.

The students, from Durham High School for Girls, were awarded £7,000 from Barclays New Futures community programme, to fund the scheme.

Twenty-four students have been visiting local primary schools to teach French to children who would not otherwise have had access to foreign language teaching.

The project, which started last year, means primary schools can offer a foreign language to their students and it gives the sixth-formers a chance to gain organisational, leadership and communication skills.

High school deputy headteacher Val Dunsford said: "Learning French has been one of the things the primary school children have been most worried about before going to secondary school.

"The project has given them a head start and it has been an absolutely brilliant experience for the sixth-formers."

The students attended the Barclays New Futures conference, at the Copthorne Hotel, in Newcastle, on Wednesday, with students from four other schools.

BBC television presenter Diane Louise Jordan, who chaired the conference, said: "All the students have used their Barclays New Futures award to make a real difference to their local communities.

"The conference was an opportunity for them to celebrate achievements and share the skills they have learned."

The other schools taking part were John Spence Community High School, North Shields, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospital and Home Tuition Service, St Cuthbert's High School, in Newcastle, and Southmoor School, in Sunderland.

All the schools were awarded £7,000 in cash or resources to carry out community projects devised by pupils.