A NEW approach to engaging children is in place at a Woolston Primary School.

Called Thinking Skills, the innovative teaching method, pioneered in Australia, is making waves in British schools.

Last year Helen Lea, a teacher at St Peter's Catholic Primary School, observed it at first hand during a British Council funded trip to Adelaide, South Australia.

She said: "In the UK we lead a content led curriculum, versus actually how to think. It is better for children to develop thinking skills than to have a massive amount of knowledge and gives the less confident children a real boost."

Last week children at St Peter's learned about the human body but due to the new thinking skills approach were asked to apply their knowledge and describe what they would be unable to do without a skeleton, rather than simply memorising facts.

Mrs Lea said: "This teaching method can be integrated into almost all parts of the curriculum and ensure the children develop skills for life."