But pupils at Highfield Humanities College are turning their thoughts to what would make school a better place.

Don't get them wrong, these student council representatives love their school.

The teachers are knowledgeable and friendly. Their lessons interesting and challenging. The peer pressure positive and the memories created are lifelong.

It is no different to schools across the borough and beyond, all of which are set to be brought up to 21st century standards under the £15bn Building Schools for the Future scheme, which allocates £143m to Blackpool.

But in the year of its 75th anniversary, almost everyone at Highfield agrees the building itself could do with some improvements.

And with millions of pounds of funding set to come into Blackpool's education department's coffers, those dreams could be a reality by 2011.
Although most of the current crop would have left school by the time the doors finally opened, their hopes and dreams will be taken into consideration by planners in designing a new Highfield.

Chelsey Dufour is excited by the prospect but knows she won't benefit herself.

She said: "I'm upset because I won't see the new school, but I'd also be upset to see this school torn down.

"I have so many memories of Highfield, it's a really good school and I've had a great time, but it does need a makeover.

The 16-year-old knows the school's strengths and weaknesses well.
"The corridors need to be wider, because we get collisions and traffic jams," she said.

"For heating, they are freezing in winter and like a green house in the summer because of all the glass.

"When visitors come to the school, I'm embarrassed when they see the carpet covered in chewing gum. I hope in a new school the kids would respect it more and not drop gum. But it also needs a wipe clean surface on the floor.

"I think because we have a say in the design, the pupils will be more proud of the school, they'll want to get up in the morning and come in – it'll be like a new toy."

Daniel Pothecary agrees: "Pupil voice is vital. It's pupils who are going to be using the school so what they think is very important."
The 16-year-old is part of the consultation group which meets with teachers and governors to discuss the school's future.

"We want bigger classrooms with quiet areas where people can work on their own. Some people think the library is quite cramped and the sports hall needs better changing rooms."

Green schemes are popular with many of the youngsters, who suggest everything from grey water recycling to wind turbines.

Those envious of the swimming pool at Palatine hope for better sports facilities, while others are keen on the idea of individual year group common rooms for relaxing.

Lockers to store books and PE kits and toilets that don't smell are also top of the agenda for the school council, but among the new they also want to retain the old.

Headboy Neil Trevethan said: "To lose 75 years of history would be a shame. They need to build a new school, the classrooms are too small, but we want to keep parts of the school, it's about finding a balance.
"We would also like to see the new school have environmentally friendly things like solar panels to help reduce its carbon footprint."

Despite the excitement, the prospect of a new school brings, everyone is keen to stress these plans are by no means finalised and the changes are not limited to the building programme.

Education itself is changing, and not just at Highfield.
The schools of the future could see less of the traditional regimented rows with teachers standing in front of classes of 30.

Instead tomorrow's children would partake in more individual learning, lecture style lessons and incorporation of technology to share information and enthuse youngsters.

Schools will move with the times, be future-proofed for expected technological developments.

They must house the facilities needed to offer the new 14-19 diplomas being introduced this September in vocational subjects like media, construction, health and social care.

Schools which specialise will be expected to open their doors to students from other areas, and to the community, to make use of those facilities and make them a hub for their area.

Pupils might be expected to work independently of their classes and teachers, in a bid to improve motivation and their ability to think for themselves, keeping in touch via text, MSN, video link and email.
The ideas and the technology are out there.

It is down to the staff, pupils, governors, parents and the local authorities to translate that into the school.

Linda Appleby, Highfield's business manager, said change was being embraced and all the options looked at.

"The children of today are very different to those who came through school 30 years ago," she said. "They are a lot more switched on, far better at ICT than most adults, and have all this information at their fingertips. If we want them to learn, perhaps we have to tap into the way they want to learn and engage with their techniques.

"This working group is not just looking at the physical building.
"We are not just saying what facilities we want, we're looking at how we can make the physical building more exciting and engaging, to reduce bad behaviour and improve the work space.

"Look at behaviour. Children are going from narrow corridors into small boxes, that's hardly inspirational. Instead of them all sitting in one classroom, perhaps they could be logging on to a virtual lesson on a lap top in a learning hub.

"This is a very exciting time for schools and we are determined to get everyone's opinions on how they see the future of this school.
"It's important not only to get the student's views but also those of parents and the local community which is why we are inviting them in next Monday to hear about the changes which are proposed and ask what they would like to see happening.

"The school plays an important role in the community and it will be interesting to see what local people want from the school and how we can better serve our community."

Two meetings are being held for parents and the community at the school next Monday, February 25, at 3.15pm and 6.30pm.