A JOINT bid by five local secondary schools to develop e-learning has led to an allocation of £90,000 to be spent over the coming school year.

Roundwood Park, Sir John Lawes and St George's in Harpenden put in the initial bid with Sandringham School in St Albans and Stanborough School in Welywn Garden City.

The project focuses on learning using the internet and other electronic media as the source.

Each school has taken on a different subject area to develop at A-level.

The areas that each school will be responsible for are maths (Stanborough), science (Sir John Lawes), modern languages (Roundwood) and art (St George's).

Sandringham is considering either specialising in key skills basic numeracy and literacy for sixth formers or in English.

Sandringham headteacher Mrs Janet Lewis said "We are delighted that we are going to receive this money and hope it can be used for staff and training to really get the project going."

Headteacher of Roundwood Mr Andrew Cunningham said: "We are going to set up a website that will have lots of information and facilities to enhance learning, not just of our own students but also as a resource available for people in the wider community.

"We might for example have exemplar essays on it or resources to help less able sixth formers.

"We are to develop modern languages so we might set up a language chat room or even install web cameras so students can hold conversations with experts.

"The possibilities are endless and exciting and will be a marvellous opportunity for our students and staff."

Each school will be allocated £11,000 to initiate its project with the remaining £35,000 to remain centrally to be allocated as the project develops.

The project is funded as part of the first Local Initiatives Fund (LIF) ran by the Hertfordshire Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

The LSC was given £1million by the Secretary of State to distribute to projects that meet concerns over basic skills, level 3 achievement (the equivalent of two A-levels), collaboration between learning establishments and how the project might engage employers.

Only proposals which address one or more of of these four issues were considered for funding.

July 3, 2002 17:30