PUPILS have benefitted from lessons held outside the classroom in a bid to improve their exam grades.

Students at St Frances Xavier School, Richmond, have been taking extra English lessons at The Station, where they can enjoy a cake and hot chocolate while discussing exam questions.

Teacher Kaye Noone said she had tried the move before in a previous school and had seen results straight away.

She said: “The students open up more outside of the classroom sometimes, and it feels a bit more grown up to go somewhere else and have a lesson in a more informal setting.

“These students sat their English GSCE in November but did not get their C grade.

“It seems to work particularly well with a small group as they have the confidence to voice their ideas and speak up if they don’t understand.

“Most students like the board-room environment – we still have proper lessons like in school but we can break off for refreshments.”

Ms Noone takes the students to the Station once a week and will continue until their exams in the summer.