A PRIMARY school has featured in a new book by a renowned educational author, highlighting how children should be taught.

Holy Trinity Primary School, in Bank Top, is mentioned by name in the Creative Schools – the grassroots revolution that’s transforming education book by Ken Robinson.

Ken is one of the world’s most influential voices in education. In his book he calls for an end to the outmoded industrial educational system and proposes a highly personalised, organic approach that engages all students, develops their love of learning, and enables them to face the real challenges of the twenty first century.

It is filled with anecdotes, observations and case studies – including the pioneering Darwen primary school.

Headteacher Mark Standen said: “It’s real kudos for the the school and it’s great being featured in the book. Ken Robinson is a guru and is world renowned. He travels worldwide talking about the creativity and lack of creativity in schools around the world.

“We do things quite differently in school and our creative approach has been recognised in this book.

“We have an education system that believes in just sitting pupils down and testing them. This is outdated and antiquated. We have been an exception to that rule.

“Our approach to learning is to adopt a much more creative approach and nurture children and get the best out of them. Academic learning is not always the way.”

He said they adopt a ‘project-based’ structure and fit learning around a theme which engages with the children and fires up their creativity.

“In the past we have told the children we have found alien eggs in the school and brought it to life by having the police and Lancashire Telegraph involved to talk to the children. Meanwhile the children have been measuring the eggs, writing to the aliens and getting immersed in learning. Even the parents believed it at one point.”

“Parents appreciate our approach and like that we are offering something different.”

Holy Trinity is indexed and featured on pages 92 and 93 stating how the slow but effective changes in the approach to learning have been recognised as making a notable difference to the children in the school.