PUPILS experienced life in a different school for a day -- to see what school days were like for other children.

They shadowed pupils as they went about their regular lessons.

During the visit they saw the other ways in which schools are run.

They then got the chance to consider which systems in the other school would work well in their own, while also noting successful methods used in their school.

A group of ten Year Nine pupils from Canon Slade, Bolton; George Tomlinson, Kearsley; the Deane School, Bolton; St James in Farnworth and Bury Church Secondary took part in the pupil "Learning Walk" in a bid to help their own schools improve.

Canon Slade organised the "Learning Walk" as part of its work as a leading edge school.

Ros Binge who arranged the "walk" along with St James' Deputy Head Annette Patterson, said Pupil Learning Walks are used as a tool to identify good practice, enhance self-evaluation and identify areas for the school improvement plan.

Ms Binge said: "Instead of pupils walking from classroom to classroom we decided that the best way to experience teaching and learning in our schools was to spend a typical school day with a host pupil.

"We have ten pupils, two from each school, who are visiting each others' schools."

Each pair of pupils has a specific area of school life to look at such as: rewards and sanctions, school environment, school uniform, teaching and learning and the structure of the school day.

As well as reporting on their areas, youngsters were asked to write about their general impressions of each school. They were encouraged to take on the role of pupil researchers and given maps of each school, blank timetables to inform them of the times of lessons and cameras to take photos of examples of best practice.

When all the visits are finished pupils will write up a final report selecting best practice from each school.

They will be asked to give three recommendations for improvement in their own school and three reasons for celebration. They will present their findings to their school governors and also to the Bolton Pupil Voice Conference later this month.

St James' pupil Charlotte Taylor, aged 13, said: "I was really scared the first time I went into another school but I think I have learnt to become more confident and I have made a lot of new friends.

"At one school I went to, they had something called a bully box which was a private box that anyone with any problems could use.

"I thought that was something that could also be used in other schools."

Fabien Dade, aged 14, also from St James' said he noticed in one school they had litter pickers keeping the premises tidy, which he thought was a good idea.

He also went to a school where maths was being taught in quite a small class -- which he also felt worked especially well.