THE summer holidays are normally a chance to relax. However, 46 pupils from St John's RC Comprehensive School, in Bishop Auckland, decided to spend two weeks of their summer holidays back at school.

The Department for Education and Employment funding provided a summer school for 'more able children', in which pupils learned to develop their journalistic skills.

With help from The Northern Echo, the young reporters discovered how to conduct an interview and managed to put their new talents to good use when compiling a newspaper.

Their task over the holiday was to find some real news and produce a number of articles. The process helped to improve their competence in both English and information technology.

The pupils also enjoyed visits to TFM and BBC Radio Cleveland. They reported on the aftermath of the South Church floods and on issues surrounding the development of Bishop Auckland's new hospital.

Articles were written after surveys unearthed Bishop Auckland's true opinions on the euro and BSE.

St John's was one of five schools in County Durham funded by the Government to encourage more able children to achieve their potential.

Easington, Greenfield, Park View and Wolsingham comprehensive schools all ran summer schools, centred on sports, performing arts, numeracy and conservation.