Television World First for Manchester School

In a world first, four Year 10 pupils have used pioneering digital technology to create an interactive television site about the Didsbury school for Cable & Wireless - including information on the new building, curriculum, OFSTED reports and the school ethos. This will allow pupils, parents and the wider local community access to information on Parrs Wood and use e-mail from their TV screens to keep in touch with the school.

Jack Coldridge, Sam Dineley, Tim Stokes and Sam Yoffe (all age 14) have created the service with help from the school's IT manager, Martin Green, and are amongst the first people in the country to apply the new technology.

In addition, Cable & Wireless Communications is providing 100 pupils with free digital subscriptions for a six month period so that the school can get maximum use from their new site.

As a City Learning Centre, Parrs Wood will also gain unique access to Cable & Wireless' 65,000 digital subscribers throughout Manchester.

‘The school is keen to harness the exciting and ever expanding potential of information technology.' comments Iain Hall, head teacher of Parrs Wood. ‘The success of this project has demonstrated that schools can work with the private sector to achieve mutual benefits for our students and their parents. We look forward to continuing this fruitful partnership with Cable & Wireless.'

We are delighted to work with Parrs Wood on this project.' said Janet Somerville, marketing director of Cable & Wireless Communications. ‘Interactive digital technology gives television enormous potential. As well as introducing web sites and e-mail to those who do not have access to a PC, it means the family television set can be used to access a wide range of educational, community and local interest information.'

Manchester recently saw the launch of the world's first interactive broadband digital TV service. This new technology from Cable & Wireless allows viewers to call up selected web sites and send e-mail via their TV screens. Major companies such as British Airways and Tesco will be amongst the first to use the power of broadband interactivity to bring the benefits of the Internet into the many UK households which may not own a PC.