Hesketh Fletcher CE High School's Phase One Base programme to help children from Hag Fold, in Atherton, has been held up as a model example of modern schooling in a national broadsheet's education supplement.

Phase One Base was hailed as a successful model for helping children who sometimes find it hard to flourish with the school system.

Last month, representatives met 40 of their counterparts from schools across the north west to pass on their expertise.

Since the article was published in the Guardian's education section the school has received calls from neighbouring education authorities who are keen to learn from the school.

Dr Ted Walker, Hesketh Fletcher head teacher, said: "We're really proud and it is fabulous to get the recognition.

"We've not received direct funding for schemes like this and it has taken a lot of hard work.

"We've worked with the community, councillors, and the community centre in Hag Fold.

"The key ingredient has been Wigan and Leigh Housing, which recognised the value of what we were doing an gave us the flats we use for the homework club.

"We are hoping to move into another block in September."

How it works
Phase One Base is designed to take disruptive youngsters out of school and into a totally new environment with a maximum one-to-six teacher-pupil ratio.

More than 40% of Hesketh Fletcher's 800-pupil intake is from Hag Fold and 50 of those pupils were in danger of being expelled.

As part of the Home from Home scheme "house parents", who once worked for Social Services, take over from the teachers at the end of the school day and oversee children until around 8pm.

Pupils are then allowed to watch some television before the set is switched off and homework begins.