A SCHOOL has brought the outside in with a £30,000 learning lab designed to encouraging independent learning.

Greenfield Community College in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is one of only seven schools in the world taking part in School in the Cloud, an innovative education concept that encourages pupils to organise their own learning environment.

The project was devised and funded by Newcastle University education specialist Professor Sugata Mitra, who believes children can teach themselves and each other if motivated by curiosity and their peers.

Over the last few months, staff at the school’s community and arts centre have been hard at work designing and over-seeing the construction of two new creative spaces.

And today (Thursday, February 13), pupils, teachers and dignitaries joined Prof Mitra for the official launch of Room 13 – Greenfield’s very own School in the Cloud.

Designed to be different to a normal classroom, the room has an outdoor feel, featuring artificial grass, unusual seating, large windows, cloud light installations and the latest IT equipment.

The idea is that pupils and community groups will be set questions and will then work together, using the Internet, to come up with solutions.

Katy Milne, director of arts and creativity at Greenfield, said the project was a fantastic opportunity to develop enquiry-based learning at the school.

“We are confident that the new spaces will offer a range of opportunities for creativity and learning for our students, local primary schools and the wider community,” she added.