THE science class at one local high school is conducting a very special experiment... and all the results are looking highly positive.

Achievement is a key target at Parr Community High School where science teacher Kath Hunter is encouraging Year Seven pupils to become independent learners.

Kath, the only high school teacher in St Helens to have been awarded a Best Practice Research Scholarship, is helping youngsters to achieve more by assisting them to assess and improve their own learning as they work through science topics.

She is being supported during the one-year scholarship by Dr Olwen McNamara, a senior research fellow at Manchester Metropolitan University. The aim of the Government's £3 million scholarship scheme is to raise standards in primary and secondary schools by collecting together examples of best teaching practice.

Kath said: "I applied for a scholarship because I am very keen to see children achieving the most they can. So far the research is going well. The children have risen to the challenge of adopting different ways of working and enjoying taking part in the project".

The findings of the initiative will be published at the end of the year on the DFEE Standards website.