MOST teenagers are spending their Easter holidays eating chocolate, watching videos, hanging out with friends or even on holiday.

But for conscientious students the two-week break from the standard school day takes on another meaning. It is a valued chance to get ahead with revision on the run up to Key Stage tests and GCSE exams.

And at Accrington's Moorhead High School in Cromwell Avenue students have been taking the opportunity to learn more.

The school has continued with an initiative which began last year to run two days of extra lessons. School uniforms are ditched for jeans and T-shirts and the atmosphere is much more relaxed in the maths, English, science, drama and ICT lessons to name but a few.

Around 100 students turned up for the two-day study programme delivered by 15 dedicated teachers who cut short their holidays to help.

Christine Macintosh, one of the teachers, said: "It is the second time we have run Easter classes. There are around 70 Year 9s and about 30 Year 11s.

"They are students who were targeted in Key Stage 3 and 4 to improve their grades in the coming exams, but they are mixed ability.

"The teaching is much more informal and a wider take on the curriculum which is refreshing to teach as well as study. Pupils' attitudes to learning is excellent and it is much more individualised attention. The ratio teacher to pupil is almost one to ten which is unheard of in day to day classes.

"As teachers we are willing to give up our spare time when we can see the benefits."

For the Year 9s the study sessions come just two weeks before their first SAT exams so it is the perfect way to maintain "study mode".

But for the GCSE students it is a key time to hit the books. The school dropped to 17 per cent A to C grades in GCSEs last year from 22 per cent the year before and 25 per cent in 2000.

Deputy head Andrew O'Brien added: "We want to raise achievement and give students the chance to get the best grades they can. In Key Stage 3 our last results were the highest ever and we are hoping to have that again. We have had a blip with the GCSEs and want to get back on track. It's a big ask but the students are really keen.

"The approach is completely different from normal lessons as it is far more hands on and practical activities with small groups of highly motivated youngsters.

"I am not sure if any other schools do this over Easter but the eagerness from the students to participate has been remarkable. Students simply want to be here."