SCHOOL might be out for the summer . . . but for two bright children, the long break will be no holiday.

Daniel Greenhalgh and Alexander Parkinson, from Withins School in Breightmet, will be taking part in summer schools organised by the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth.

They have been identified as being talented academically in all subjects.

Daniel, aged 15, will spend two weeks at Lancaster University on a sociology course "Challenging the Media: Social Identities and Media Technologies" aimed at developing critical and analytical skills.

Alexander will attend Canterbury Christ Church University for a three-week course for 14 to 16-year-olds called: "The Analysis, Cultures and People of Sport."

Subjects will include physiology, psychology, biomechanics, motor skill acquisition and sociology.

Alexander, who lives in Harwood, took two GCSEs a year early. He said: "I am looking forward to going, because it is an introduction to university.

"It is good to be challenged and that gifted and talented pupils are recognised and helped because it gives you confidence and belief in yourself.

"I want to be a surgeon and doing things like this makes me even more determined."

Claire Wilkinson, Withins School business manager, said: "Summer Schools are hard work but are also a lot of fun. Students will be working with experts who are leaders in their chosen field.

"This means that they will have opportunities to stretch themselves and to expand their chosen area of knowledge, discovering more about themselves in the process.

"But summer school isn't all about work. A varied social programme in the evening means that students will be able to recharge their batteries for the following day."

The Government has launched a drive across the country to help gifted children fulfil their potential, although schools in the borough have been running a scheme to cater for such pupils for more than 10 years.

Headteachers at every secondary school in the country are to receive letters asking them to register their most talented pupils with the national academy, based at Warwick University.

The list is designed to help teachers identify and stretch some of the brightest children whose potential has been missed or has not been spotted because they come from poorer backgrounds.