PARENTS at a Bolton secondary school are being invited back to the classroom . . . to keep up with their children.

Rivington and Blackrod High School is starting computer courses for adults, in collaboration with Bolton Community Education Service.

And although the courses don't begin until after Easter, they are already almost full with parents, and head John Baumber is throwing open any spare spaces to the general public.

Access

The school has created a new IT centre using the latest computers, with full Internet access, at their large campus on the slopes of Rivington.

They are offering three different courses, including an introduction to computers over 15 weeks for £24. Two other, vocational courses cover word processing, data base and spreadsheets and a more advanced one is aimed at the more proficient computer user.

Commented Mr Baumber: "Yes, we've been very pleased with the take-up rate from parents. There are so many of our generation who baulk a little at getting our hands on new technology, while our youngsters just speed away.

"We need to understand technology better, and there is also a need at this end of the town for more adult learning facilities of this kind."

And the interest from the general public has already proved so great that the school is looking to put on further courses, with details on offer by ringing Karen Littlefair at the school on 692511.

Mr Baumber, who came to Rivington from the North-east last year, has also instigated a scheme run successfully there to provide technology courses for local businesses.

He is currently in discussion with two other local schools to kick off the scheme, with the aid of cash from the European Social Fund.

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