CHILDREN at Luttons Community Primary School, near Malton, became the focus of international attention when top educationalists watched how they learned science.

University lecturers from Poland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Portugal, Estonia and Sweden watched a science lesson at the school.

Malcolm Smith, an education lecturer in ICT at Bradford College, who organised a conference at Scarborough last week, attended by the overseas party, said it was a European-funded project to produce science teachers for young children in their own countries.

A reciprocal visit to Bulgaria is to be made by teachers from this country in September.

"The aim was to give them a flavour of the kind of science primary-age children are taught in this country," he said.

"We heard about Luttons School's reputation in the field and decided to come and see it in action for ourselves".

Tracey Gillbank, the head teacher, said "We were delighted to host the visit and the children and lecturers got on well.

"We were given an excellent Ofsted report in general and especially for our science teaching.

"We give the children activities to test theories.

"We find it involves a wide range of educational skills and opens up new horizons for the children".

Updated: 09:59 Friday, January 24, 2003