Holidays - with a difference

FOR some eager pupils the summer holidays gave the chance to go back to school, but these were lessons with a difference. The innovative Dover grammar schools' summer school two-week course included a day-trip to France.

They also visited a Coastguard station, used trigonometry to measure the height of the famous Boys' School tower and learnt to speak Chaucerian English.

Mike Thomas, head of English and sixth form studies at the boys' school, was joined by staff from both the boys' and the girls' schools for the government-funded national scheme.

Core subjects were English, drama, maths, history, French and science.

"This has not been just another two weeks in school for the children," said Mr Thomas. ''It's been very relaxed with no uniform and the course was comprised of both boys and girls.

"For Year 6 pupils it has been exciting because it has been an introduction to secondary school" Classroom work such as spoken French, studying hovercraft technology, radio-carbon dating, archaeology and history were preparation for a variety of excursions.

Mr Thomas said the course has been very successful.

"All the students were very enthusiastic - they didn't see it as being at school during the summer holidays."