MORE than 40 children played power games at a summer school which taught them that learning is not all about reading books.

The pupils, who studied the earth's dwindling resources at Wolsingham School and Community College for two weeks, earned their places with success in national progress tests.

They spent most of their time out of the classroom on field trips and practical experiments.

The youngsters went canoeing, learned a Maori way of cooking, built solar-powered homes and carts, trekked through a forest and over hills and interviewed shoppers in Durham.

Assistant headteacher John Maddison led a team of five teachers who, he said, enjoyed the experience as much as the children.

He said: "Summer schools have proved successful for children who need a little extra help with basic skills like reading. This was one for the more able students who would benefit from a little extra stimulus and a new approach. We wanted to give the children the chance to run free with ideas without any demarcation between different subjects.

"What we were teaching them was that learning isn't out of a text book and can be a lot of fun. We took a completely cross-curricular approach, taking them out of a formal teaching environment, and set them things to do in their own way.

"They were asked to come up with solutions to problems and adapt their ideas to wider thinking, so that they can go back to their classrooms with a new approach.

"The theme we chose seemed appropriate for the area they live in. It is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, we have the prospect of a windfarm being considered on our doorstep and we have visitors coming to the area from outside.

"We looked at the environment around us, the benefits and negatives it brings and how we can sustain it.

"It proved a great success. Some families even changed their holiday plans so their children could come, and all the students said they want to come back."