COME September, chocolate will be a tasty addition to lessons at one Bolton school.

Youngsters will even pay a visit to Cadbury's World chocolate factory in Birmingham.

Chorley New Road Primary School is introducing the International Primary School Curriculum in a bid to move away from more traditional subject teaching to creative and themed-based lessons.

And the Horwich-based primary is not alone in changing its teaching methods so that different subjects, such as geography and history, complement each other rather than being completely unrelated classes.

A survey by the Times Educational Supplement showed that four out of five primary schools are moving towards introducing cross-curricular classes using topics such as chocolate and space travel which will be studied over a period of time in different lessons.

Such teaching fell out of favour in the early 1990s as it was thought it led to "fragmentary and superficial teaching".

But four years ago the Government gave the style of teaching the green light in its Excellence And Enjoyment: A Strategy For Primary Schools.

It has since won the backing of Mick Waters, director of curriculum for the Qualification and Curriculum Authority, and Ofsted inspectors have described schools which have introduced it as "innovative and inspiring".

Mr Waters, a former chief education officer at Manchester City Council, said: "Schools are finally getting the confidence to make the curriculum work for them, rather than being slaves to something they imagine is the driver."

Teachers say the benefits of themed learning go beyond enforcing what children are learning.

Andrew Hurst, headteacher of Chorley New Road Primary, said: "We have started introducing theme-based lessons, but they will officially start in September when we implement the International Primary School Curriculum.

"This is very exciting for the whole school.

"The curriculum is based on themed learning with a global dimension.

"This school is developing links in France, Dubai and Tanzania, and given the global economy, it was important to have this dimension given the global economy.

"It encourages children to have an awareness of different countries and languages. Something which will be vital to them when they are older. They already learn French at a young age."

He added: "The first topic will be chocolate. Children will be taken to the Cadbury's factory to get them excited about the subject.

"Through their history and geography lessons they will study where chocolate comes from, the Fairtrade concept and so on.

"This theme-based learning is different from that taught previously because it is within the framework of the national curriculum.

"The core subject are not part of the theme-based teaching.

"The International Primary Schools curriculum ensures the topics we study tie in with the national curriculum."

Recently, children at the school have been learning about the continents using theme-based teaching.

Mr Hurst said: "What we find with theme-based learning is that it encourages independent learning as opposed to teacher-led learning.

"Because the subject is carried over in different lessons, pupils see the relevance of what they are learning and are more engaged.

"They become keen to undertake their own research. They are developing skills by working on their own projects to do with the theme and discussing it with other pupils."

The work on world continents saw pupils learn the history, geography of countries.

Their study was carried into information communication technology lessons and art.

Their work is now exhibited in a special learning suite.

Jennifer Ball, aged 11, said: "It is easier to learn this way because you can used the theme you have learnt in one lesson in another subject."

Kiera Elliot, aged 10, added: "We learnt about the different laws, cultures and religions when studying the different continents. We also learnt how what we do can affect other countries.

"It is more fun to learn this way because we can do things in art and be creative, like making totem poles, and we can learn by ourselves as well."

Bethany Chamberlain, aged 11, said: "It will be amazing learning all about chocolate. We are so excited by it - especially the tasting part."

Theme-based learning can last anything from a week to a month, depending on the topic.

Future topics will include holidays.

Mr Hurst said: "Pupils are so excited and engaged in the learning process they go into the learning centre to carry on the work on their own.

"It is fun for them and yet they are learning so much and picking up skills which they can take on to secondary school.

"The only negative side is the work done by staff to tailor the topics to lessons, but seeing the difference it makes to children's learning, makes the work worthwhile."

He added: "Most primary schools will go down the route of theme-based learning, and by implementing the International Primary Curriculum we are giving our children a head start."