STUDENTS have been swapping the classroom for tourism and leisure attractions to help them with their studies.

Sixteen children from Dyke House School, in Hartlepool, have been to the Camerons Brewery Visitor Centre and Hartlepool's Maritime Experience as part of their GCSE syllabus in leisure and tourism.

The leisure and tourism sector is now worth about £30m to the Hartlepool economy and provides employment for over 3,000 people.

Denise Taylor, of Hartlepool Working Solutions, a council-led initiative training and employment initiative, said: "The tourism and leisure industry is now big business in Hartlepool. It provides more jobs than any other sector and demonstrates how much Hartlepool has changed in recent years.

"There are now a considerable number of jobs in this sector and a GCSE in this subject will help to open doors for these children in the future."

Martin Childs, course tutor at the school, said: "Feedback from the students was very positive. I've no doubt this will help immensely with their GCSE leisure and tourism course."

For information, call Denise Taylor on (01429) 284032.