School crams four months of learning into just EIGHT minute lessons

After each short session, students at Monkseaton Community High School are given a ten-minute break before returning to the classroom.

The lesson is then repeated using the same content as before but with different teaching methods until the 60-minute lesson comes to an end.

The controversial approach means pupils are taught for only 24 minutes in each hour.

The North Tyneside school is thought to be the first to adopt the pioneering method, called space learning, which is based on research published in the U.S. two years ago.

Scientists claimed the brain stores information more effectively if given more time to absorb it, and the average pupil's attention span was estimated at eight minutes.

The school is using the technique for GCSE revision.

Headteacher Dr Paul Kelley said half a year's worth of lessons are condensed into the eight minutes, giving pupils a sweeping overview of the subject.

"They come out having learnt more in those few minutes than they have all term," he said.

"As I understand it we're the only school in the world to use the approach, though I'm a little surprised that we are.

"It's not about criticising other teaching methods.

"All we're saying is that this is a new approach and one which is having positive results."

The idea is based on scientific breakthroughs that suggest a gene in the brain - the Creb gene -- can be developed with short lessons followed by periods of brain inactivity.

Angela Bradley, a science teacher, devised a one-hour GCSE revision session, condensing an entire unit, or half a year's work, into a single, eightminute PowerPoint presentation.

This was followed by a ten-minute game of Simon Says.

The presentation was then repeated, with strategic words removed and pupils asked to help fill in the blanks.

After another ten-minute gap, the presentation was repeated again and the pupils were asked questions.

"We always knew that repeating something makes it sink in, but now we know why," said Miss Bradley.

The controversial new technique is proving to be a big hit with the students.

Daniel Wood, 15, a Year 11 pupil, said: 'In my eyes it is the best revision we have done.

"The inclusion of a ten-minute break doing something fun helps us remember because it keeps our brains active instead of doing something boring and forgetting what we have done."

The school, which teaches 850 pupils aged between 13 and 19, says the eight- minute lessons are "an exception, not the rule", and have not had any impact on exam results so far.

Nick Seaton, spokesman for the Campaign for Real Education, said: "To me, this is just promoting the idea of a shorter attention span and I would think, when youngsters get out into the world of work, employers are going to be very disappointed if their employees can concentrate or even work for only eight minutes at a time."

A report by Government watchdog the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority recently called for lessons to be divided into different lengths - with some lasting just a few minutes - to grab the attention of pupils and help motivate them.