A CRISIS of national importance was taking place - lives were at risk, including those of an un-named royal person.

The minutes were ticking away and the media were asking awkward questions. Would the government spokesperson give straight answers - what do you think?

Only pretend of course - this was another day of gripping simulation laid on for local teachers by our NIE department and funded by the Teacher Placement Service at East Lancs Education Business Partnerships.

Fourteen teachers took on the roles of journalists and members of the crisis team to tackle information from the Newstream computer program.

By the end of the day newspaper pages had been produced, the crisis handled and the royal person saved - but only just in time.

More information on the program and its use in school classrooms can be obtained from Rita Shaw, tel 01254 678678 ext 255.

TRIPS and visits to places of interest have always formed a high spot in school life, broadening the horizons of pupils and often giving welcome relief from more routine work. Two schools have sent in reports on visits made this term. Older students from Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School headed out west to the USA, while youngsters from Brunshaw County Primary in Burnley, had an exciting time nearer home:

US holiday trek was tribute to an ex-pupil

AN intrepid band of 22 adventurers set out from Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School at half-term after 18 months of preparation and saving up.

They followed almost the route taken 30 years ago by Barbara and John Brooks - a former pupil of BRGS who, after reading medicine at the University of Manchester, went to the US for one year to do research and who then settled permanently in Springfield, Missouri.

Sadly John died 18 months ago and as a tribute to him, Barbara had invited sixth-formers across for a 10-day visit.

One of the highlights of the trip was to Silver Dollar City, a recreation of an American town of old, complete with its own cavern system, craft fair and huge rides. Dixie Stampede was a horse-show-cum-diner where the audience cheered on the Confederate or the Unionist, and being good Lancashire lads and lasses, BRGS supported the victorious northerners.

Springfield is situated on the north-south divide of the Civil War, so time was spent visiting the National Cemetery and the Wilson's Creek Battlefield. On the academic side, visits were made to two local colleges and to Southwest Missouri State University - where the sixth formers were among the 16,000 crowd watching a homecoming football game. The group was privileged to be addressed by local Native Americans at a weenie-roast (bonfire with hot dogs) and also visited a Juvenile Detention Centre and watched the proceedings at the Municipal Court.

One very special day was spent on work-experience shadowing jobs as varied as a psychologist, dentists, pharmacist, banker and congressman.

During the visit, long-term friendships were developed and the students experienced a very different culture from their own. Everyone had a fantastic time, so much so that already plans are under way for the next trip.

MRS L TAYLOR, Deputy Headteacher and Upper Sixth Form Students, Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School.

Excitement in the depths of the earth

AT the end of October, 40 children aged 10 and 11 from our school, Brunshaw County Primary, Burnley, went to Whitehough Outdoor Education Centre for five days.

On the coach we were really excited and telling jokes. When we arrived near the village of Barley, we had to drag our bags and cases down one really steep hill, then up another one before we reached Whitehough. When we'd been shown around we had to work in groups to solve four problems, such as "how to cross a swamp using planks of wood," and "how to scale a high wall."

Over the rest of the week we did lots of great activities. One involved following a trail looking for clues around Barley and Roughlee. Another involved orienteering, using maps of the fields and woods around Whitehough.

We also went canoeing, and got soaking wet while caving at Long Churn in the Yorkshire Dales. This was the highlight for all of us, although we were terrified at the time, crawling or slithering through small tunnels or climbing up underground waterfalls.

In the evenings we played games and did indoor climbing and caving. We each had jobs to do during our stay, to keep the centre running smoothly and it all helped to make it a week we'll all remember for ever....

RUSSELL MILLER, LAWRENCE DAW, SAMANTHA CURTIS and PHILIP HILTON. Year Six pupils, Brunshaw County Primary School, Burnley.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.