The future for our classrooms unveiled at Lysander High

A SCHOOL has unveiled a glimpse of the future by revealing a new modern classroom soon to be built in Warrington institutions.

Padgate's Lysander High School showed off the new classroom to councillors and officials on Friday.

The futuristic design is an example of what will be built with funds from the recently secured partnership with the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme.

Four high schools in Warrington, including William Beamont, Penketh and Sir Thomas Boteler, in addition to Lysander, will receive the potential £80 million cash injection.

And it was at Lysander where guests including Helen Jones MP and Mayor Clr Brian Axcell witnessed how lessons will be structured according to a new high-tech teaching set-up.

The theme of the lesson in the modern classroom was the dangers of alcohol consumption.

Rather than a stuffy lecture with drawings on a blackboard, the methods of teaching became strikingly interactive.

Surrounded by a classroom swathed in bright primary colours, councillors including deputy leader Keith Bland and Sheila Woodyatt and other guests, attempted to play a tennis video game while wearing beer goggles.

Models were on view demonstrating the physical consequences of drinking alcohol such as a pickled liver in a jar and a quiz on the subject could be completed on mini-laptops.

Even seating arrangements have been revamped with fluourescent beanbags for students to sit on.

Teachers will also be given updated equipment, like the flatscreen monitor that will replace traditional blackboards.

Deputy head teacher, Drew Rowlands was keen to stress that only six rooms would be altered entirely to 'modern' specifications, to ensure education remains 'balanced'.

Mrs Summers heads the ICT department at Lysander and will be dealing with all of the new technology.

She said: "The students are much better with it than us and they're really enjoying it. Parents will be able to get involved too as students can access material at home via the online virtual learning environment."

Kath O'Dwyer, director of young people's services in Warrington, said that the revamp was 'a fantastic opportunity'.

Helen Jones also highlighted the need for teaching to adapt to the 21st century.

She said: "The value of education and the way it is taught must suit the modern world."