Historic village school unveils the classroom of the future

Dec 13 2006 Liverpool Daily Post

A VILLAGE primary school nearly two centuries old yesterday claimed to have built the most technologically advanced classroom in the country.

Broadclyst Community Primary School has spent a quarter of a million pounds from its school budget transforming a large auditorium into "the classroom of tomorrow".

The new information and communication technology (ICT) system comprises wide-screen projection systems, surround-sound and a raft of audio-visual teaching aids.

Instead of traditional blackboards, pupils at the 196-year-old school in Exeter, Devon, now face three large-format digital projection screens in front of theatre-style seating and desks.

There is also a four-metre wide projection wall and planetarium, and every pupil using the new system will have continuous access to a networked PC with broadband internet connection.

Peter Hicks, headteacher of the 280-pupil school, which was built in 1810 for village children, said: "When the first would-be astronauts flew

their ultra-fast jet planes right up to the edge of space and the Earth's atmosphere in the 1950s, they simply called their stunning learning experience 'pushing the envelope'.

"Today, that 'envelope' of learning is being pushed hard once again here at Broadclyst Community Primary School with what we believe is the most technologically

advanced classroom in the country.

"Our children are absolutely enthralled."

Deputy head Jonathan Bishop said the technology was of real benefit to the children's education.

"It is all about personal learning," he said..

"It helps their communication with the teachers."