AN East Lancashire high school has become one of the first in the county to launch itself onto social networking site Twitter.

E-learning co-ordinator Andrew Thomas at Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School, Oswaldtwistle, launched the site to keep parents informed on key school issues.

And Mr Thomas is currently in talks with Lancashire County Council bosses to change its policy on barring sites such as Twitter and Facebook.

He is in discussions to allow access to the Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School’s Twitter and Facebook sites on school computers so all teachers and possibly students can update parents on breaking information throughout the day.

The site is currently updated at least once every few days by Mr Thomas since its September launch.

He said: “As a form tutor as soon as you hand out letters that must be given to parents but you see some of them left on desks as pupils leave.

“We decided Twitter would be a good way to inform parents directly.

“This is an addition to the existing lines of communication and we informed parents about the site and have told them we upload all school letters and school activities on to the site.

“It has been well received. It lets us communicate better with parents.

“In the first week there was 120 clicks onto our Twitter site and the Facebook page has 181 fans.”

Mr Thomas said they had asked the county council to unblock Twitter and Facebook.

He said: “Enabling use in school would allow more teachers to be involved in the process.

“We can announce dance or basketball sessions that day.

“And unlike last year parents had to listen to the radio to find out if the school was closed due to snow they could find out directly from ourselves on the Twitter site.

“Changing the barring policy would open up communication in the classroom teachers could use Facebook and Twitter in the classrooms but it would be under strict control.

“It is in its early stages but we could load virtual school projects and parents can be aware of homework.”