A SCHEME to create a unified school experience for children in the Clifton area is to be launched later this year.

The "One School @ Clifton" scheme aims to provide a seamless experience for children as they travel from nursery right through to finishing secondary school.

It is hoped the scheme, which includes Clifton Green, Burton Green, Clifton Without, Rawcliffe, Lakeside and Skelton Primary Schools, along with Canon Lee Secondary School, will boost children's learning and help create a more unified community in Clifton.

The head teacher of Clifton Green School, Sheila Audsley, said: "The One School @Clifton will bring together the seven schools to enable an opportunity for knowledge sharing, innovation and mutual support, to give all the pupils a chance to thrive and succeed in their learning environments.

"The aim is for practitioners in our network schools to work smarter together, rather than harder alone.

"A belief in collaboration rather than competition is fundamental to our work, so that we work together to impact positively on learning at all levels."

The idea of bringing together networks of schools was introduced by the Government in September 2002.

The Clifton scheme came about after head teachers from the area met at a conference two years ago and discussed the future of their schools.

A bid was put to the Government last year, and £150,000-worth of funding over three years was secured.

The money will fund a number of activities, such as unified lessons in art and citizenship, and the development of a school council made up of representatives from each school.

Throughout the seven schools teachers will also push 'thinking skills', aimed at encouraging children to think about their surroundings rather than just learning facts and figures.

The initiative will be officially launched on June 7, when children from each of the schools will create a piece of art, based on their concept of the idea of citizenship.

Updated: 09:46 Wednesday, February 11, 2004