HUNDREDS of teenagers will give up part of their Easter holiday next week in the quest for exam success.

About 240 pupils aged 16 from across County Durham have volunteered to spend Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at a GCSE revision conference.

The event, called the High 5s Challenge, will be held at Framwellgate School, Durham, and is designed to help borderline pupils achieve higher grades this summer.

As well as daytime revision in subjects such as English, maths, science and foreign languages, the students will have supervised private study sessions in the evenings.

They will also get a taste of university life as they will be staying at Durham University's Trevelyan and Collingwood colleges.

Chris Carling, of Durham County Council's Study Support Unit, said: "Young people who are on the borderline of gaining a C or D grade in certain subjects will have three days of focused and intensive revision with experienced specialist teachers so that they can achieve their full potential. But it's not going to be all work and there will be plenty of time each evening for fun and socialising.''

The schools taking part are: Ferryhill Comprehensive, Greenfield School Community and Arts College, Newton Aycliffe, Hermitage School, Chester-le-Street, Moorside Comprehensive, Parkside Comprehensive, Willington, Sedgefield Community College, St. Bede's Catholic Comprehensive, Peterlee, Tudhoe Grange Comprehensive, Wolsingham School and Community College, Framwellgate School, Blackfyne Comprehensive, Stanley School of Technology, Wellfield School, Shotton Hall School, Easington Community School, Fyndoune Community College, Sacriston, Deerness Valley Comprehensive, Woodham Community Technology College and Greencroft Comprehensive.