Minister opens 'new age' classrooms

All the heating in the new building is provided by solar panels

Schoolchildren in Telford and Wrekin have been showing off their futuristic classrooms to the education secretary.

Charles Clarke opened the hi-tech, eco-friendly classrooms on Tuesday.

He met pupils from The Lord Silkin School in Stirchley and, through the school's new video link, children from Wrockwardine Wood Junior School, in Trench.

Experts in education, technology, sustainability and construction have been working with Telford and Wrekin Council to create the two buildings, with the help of ideas from pupils and teachers.

The classrooms have been funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) as part of a scheme to create new prototype classrooms.

Mr Clarke was shown the cutting-edge classrooms by pupils

They feature the latest computer equipment, together with solar energy and lighting, automatic ventilation and self-sustaining heating, which pupils can monitor and adjust.

The Lord Silkin School sees its classroom as an exciting addition to its bid for Business and Enterprise specialist status.

Head teacher Jane Woodall said: "We will be focusing on helping our young people develop excellent business skills, raising their aspirations and self-esteem.

"We aim to make our students much in demand by companies as they move forward into the 21st Century."

Head teacher at Wrockwardine Wood, Iain McLeish, said: "The school sees the classroom of the future not just as a building but as a teaching and learning laboratory to find out what really works to stimulate, and raise standards - particularly in numeracy.

"This can then be fed back into classroom practice throughout the school and beyond."