Reporter ED REED visits Salendine Nook High School in the final part of our series on 21st century classrooms

THE quiet clicks of computer mice greet visitors to Britain's schools nowadays, rather than the sounds of chalk scraping across dusty blackboards.

A massive investment has taken place in computers across all tiers of England's education system in the past 10 years.

And Salendine Nook High School, as a specialist technology college, is leading the way in hi-tech hardware.

The computer has become a powerful and valued tool at the school, with interactive white boards and terminals in virtually all classrooms,

Peter Brown is head of the youngest year group, key stage three. He teaches history, physical education and French.

"What's been recognised over the last 20 years is that not everybody learns in the same way," he said.

"There used to be a time when there was a lot of chalk and talk.

"Now there's a much wider range of stimulus.

"Some people learn visually, some learn by doing."

Having achieved specialist technology status, Salendine Nook is expected to boost standards across the curriculum but particularly in maths, science, information, and communications technology.

Links with industry and commerce are also being strengthened to prepare pupils for the needs of the 21st century.

Mr Brown added: "Things are more hands-on.

"Pupils learn through doing via a variety of resources like videos, DVD and the internet."

Even in a history classroom, eight computer terminals sit ready to show video clips.

Music lessons too, have moved on with more synthesisers and software packages allowing children to compose and perform their own works.

SALENDINE Nook High School has 1,350 pupils and 83 teachers.

The catchment area is a huge segment of Huddersfield, fanning out from the town centre along New Hey Road encompassing Edgerton, Oakes, Lindley, Marsh and, of course, Salendine Nook.

"It's a truly comprehensive school," said Peter Brown, head of key stage three.

"It really has a full range of children. I have worked in three or four schools and this one is happy and caring."

The current site of Salendine Nook High adjoins New College. It was once three schools: a boys' grammar, girls' grammar and Salendine Nook Secondary Modern.

The High School came into being in 1974.

But huge changes have taken place in the English education system since the school's formation 30 years ago.

One of the biggest was the introduction of the National Curriculum in 1989.

GCSEs have since provided a nation-wide template for learning.

Research and teaching changed beyond recognition through the 1990s.

Mr Brown said: "The idea behind the National Curriculum is to make sure children get the same entitlement wherever they are.

"The emphasis is on creating independent learners.

"It's less factually-based, less a case of memorising particular facts or dates and more for children to develop skills they can apply in a variety of different contexts; things that will equip them when they go in for further education and the world of work."

He added: "There was a period of rapid change.

"People who have been in education a long while feel they are constantly reinventing the wheel."

For `they' read politicians.

"Education is undeniably a political issue. Sometimes you wonder whether some government policies are more short-term political fixes."

Shifts in society have also been reflected in a differing relationship between staff and pupils.

"There has been a change in the nature of the relationship for all sorts of reasons," said Mr Brown.

"Teachers are no longer authoritarian figures.

"Teaching isn't just about education. Most teachers here are form tutors. They have a pastoral role as well. They are social workers, they are counsellors.

"If a child is not performing well at school it could be because of outside influences, problems with parents, illness, divorce, separation.

"All those things have an impact and you have to be able to deal with those."