TWO schools have won almost £90,000 to forge hi-tech links with pupils and teachers across the region.

Prince Henry's Grammar School in Otley, and St Mary's RC Comprehensive School, Menston, will share the money to kick-start special projects working closely with schools such as Giggleswick and Ampleforth College.

It will see pupils discussing, working on and solving problems with their peers via top class video links, and will be used to assess levels of achievement in tests and examinations and to improve communications.

The awards were announced this week by Schools Standards Minister Estelle Morris, as part of a total £154,000 being handed out by the Department for Education and Employment to schools which made successful bids.

Penny Lewis, deputy head for the curriculum at Prince Henry's - which gets a £41,000 boost - said staff were 'absolutely delighted'.

"It's very, very exciting. Schools really find it so hard to find money to enhance learning so this is a wonderful opportunity for children to really benefit and gain a greater understanding of their environment," she said.

"We hope a lot of children will benefit. The video conferencing facilities will enable them to see each other, talk to each other and work on problems together."

Staff were also celebrating at the Menston comprehensive - which has won the lion's share of £46,000 alongside exclusive North Yorkshire school Ampleforth College - for the second phase of a project the two schools have already worked on together for a year.

Liz Cox, St Mary's deputy head teacher, said: "We were delighted to hear we had the funding, it is very exciting and we really feel that we are almost at the cutting edge of education.

"This is crossing the full range of abilities. It's not just the top or the most able pupils - they all have a go at working with their partners at Ampleforth and they find it very, very interesting."

The schemes will run for two years at each Wharfedale school. At Prince Henry's, GSCE students in Year 10 will use the equipment based in the geography department to collect data such as the movements of people in towns and villages.

Mrs Lewis said that could be used in partnership with Otley's Chamber of Trade and Commerce, looking at what attracted visitors to towns. They will also be creating their own web page.

Prince Henry's will work with Giggleswick School, Catteral Hall School and Dixon's City Technology College in Bradford during the first year before involving primary schools from Otley, when ten and 11-year-olds in Year Six will work with pupils of the same age at Catteral Hall

Students at St Mary's are already accustomed to working with Ampleforth College pupils, having proved their scheme a success last year.

Their cash windfall will build on that partnership, focusing on Year 10 students using Information Technology, problem solving and communication skills.

Mrs Cox said it would pay for a variety of equipment, ranging from hardware to examination costs - an important part of the scheme. "We will be putting the pupils through certain tests to identify strengths and weaknesses to raise attainment," she said.

"It is a very exciting development and a true partnership in which both schools are fully involved."

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