SCHOOLCHILDREN left their normal lessons behind on Monday to embark on a special week of learning about life skills, crisis management and poverty.

Children aged from 11 to 15 at Ian Ramsey CE School, in Stockton, worked together in special classes to take part in five separate activity days.

One activity involved discovering more about the problems faced by students at Ian Ramsey's twin school, Boqate, in Lesotho, Africa.

As well as learning about the scientific aspects of nutrition, the youngsters took part in a fun Ready, Steady, Cook-style cookery challenge.

Assistant headteacher Alistair Armstrong said students took an interest in the nutritional value of food when it was explained how it helps pupils at the African school.

He said that the average student at Boqate walks for an hour-and-a-half just to get to school.

Other planned activities will involve business leaders coming to the school to inspire the children, an IT class in which youngsters will be asked to create a photo story about the school, and dealing with scenarios where the students are faced with dealing with a major crisis.

Mr Armstrong said: "It's really valuable learning.

"It has involved a lot of hard work by our teachers, but it is very worthwhile."