"Promoting the reading habit in partnership with the local Community"

The newspaper trail is a guided tour around Lancashire Publications' newspaper production centre at Martland Mill in Wigan. Visitors are escorted through every department and see all the stages involved in making newspapers. 

The resource centre is a newsroom/training centre equipped with the latest technology where visitors can produce their own news pages with help from centre staff.

Visits can be tailored to suit the requirements of National Curriculum, GCSE, A-level and GVNQ is a variety of subjects. Curriculum materials, including Virtual Reality CD's of the production process, literacy projects, using newspapers and archive pages, are available for visitors. Community groups have used the resource centre to produce their own newspaper supplements and to pursue NVQ courses.

Work Experience is provided for students and professional development for teachers is available through the Teacher Placement Service.

Leigh Centurions

The newly-built curriculum centre is based at Hilton Park, home of this famous local rugby club which was founded more than 100 years ago, and aims to bring together the worlds of rugby, education and the local community. Whilst delivering many aspects of the National Curriculum, the main emphasis is on numeracy and communication skills. Pupils enjoy a range of learning experiences provided by the players and staff of Leigh Centurions, a seconded teacher and local community police officers.

There is a tour of the club during which pupils complete a mathematical challenge appropriate to their Key Stage as well as having an opportunity to work with the coach and players to gain experience of the basic skills associated with the sport. Pupils can interact with a Virtual Reality walk through of the stadium incorporating math's work and can report on their visit through a web page. We welcome all pupils including Early Years, Key Stages 1-2 and Special Schools.

The centre provides opportunities for primary, secondary and tertiary students to develop their understanding of the water cycle, water treatment and the environment. There are opportunities to develop activities to enhance studies within many areas of National Curriculum and at higher level.

Hope Carr Barn provides a realistic work environment in which students can study and explore ideas. The adjoining nature reserve is ideal for environment activities. The centre is well resourced having a teaching room, laboratory, display areas and rest areas as well is information technology facilities capable of using the newest developments, particularly in virtual reality.

Worthington Lakes

Worthington Lakes Environmental Education Centre, opened in 1990, was the first of six centres to be created by North west Water within its region.

The centre runs a successful environmental education programme based around the Water Cycle which is aimed at Key Stage 2.

During 1998 North West Water and Wigan Borough Partnership worked in partnership in order to provide Key Stage 3 and 4 programmes aligned to the CREST certificate and Science and Technology.

A new satellite classroom at Westleigh High School has been established delivering primary and secondary programmes around C.I.T.B. The programme developed with NORWEB will enable the delivery of electricity including circuits, series & parallel, transmission, generation and electrical supply to Key Stage 2 pupils, is also located within this classroom.

Leyland's Living Farm

This curriculum centre is based in a working farm where children can, whilst interacting with animals and learning about farm life, enjoy a range of activities relevant to National Curriculum. There are many opportunities for hands-on practical sessions to discover the differing farm environments and to understand that the farm is also a business.

The day is arranged to successfully deliver aspects of National Curriculum in literacy, maths, science, geography, history, design and technology, religious education, music, art and P.E.

Teacher visits in advance are strongly encouraged to arrange a programme suitable to the schools/class needs.

Pennington Flash

The Pennington Flash Education Centre offers a wide range of environmental activities providing hands-on experiences. The activities cover National Curriculum subjects and, although aimed at Key Stages 1 and 2, are available to all pupils in the borough and beyond.

Children can explore the local environment and take part in activities such as pond dipping, 'mini beast' hunts, bird watching, bird box making, ephemeral art, painting and exploration of wild flower meadow. They are also able to discover the history of the area, the origin of the flash and the geography of the Pennington area.

The facilities at Pennington are open to children outside school hours, with the rangers operating Saturday clubs and holiday schemes, as well as welcoming the involvement of children in all of the on-going environmental projects being undertaken at the site.

This fully equipped resource centre supported by The Construction Industry Training Board, the Wigan Borough Partnership and Wigan and Leigh College is based at the college's Pagefield Building.

Dedicated to promoting construction as a context for learning, the centre provides support for pupils, teachers, careers advisors and employers. Work at the centre can enhance National Curriculum programmes in all Key Stages and in many subject areas- particularly science, technology, maths, history and English.