PUPILS from Darlington joined forces to drum up business for an open day promoting extended schools activities.

Hummersknott School and Language College and Skerne Park Primary School will become Darlington's first extended schools, backed by £168,000 of funding from the Department for Education and Skills.

Extended schools offer pupils, families and local communities a range of services, including after-school activities, community sports programmes, evening classes, adult learning, childcare, parenting support and on-site health and social care.

During the open day at Hummersknott School on Saturday, October 2, people can sample some of the activities extended schools could offer.

The event will include activities and workshops such as silk painting, clay modelling, card making and break-dancing, a climbing wall, video-conference demonstrations, tai chi and drumming.

Yesterday, pupils from both schools got the chance to try drumming.

The event is open to all and free buses will run between Skerne Park Primary School and Hummersknott School.

The initiative has been piloted across councils in England with major benefits seen including higher levels of pupil achievement and increased pupil motivation and esteem.

Parents also enjoy greater involvement in their children's learning and opportunities for adult education.

Stephen Harker, Darlington Borough Council's cabinet member for education, said: "This is an innovative idea that will provide a range of learning opportunities."