KIDDERMINSTER'S Baxter College is celebrating after being the first school in the West Midlands to be awarded Promethean Centre of Excellence status for its work with interactive whiteboards.

Representatives from the company awarded the Habberley Road school during a special plaque at a ceremony last week.

Teachers are now able to train, tutor and assess new users of the innovative technology that is a far cry from chalk on a blackboard.

The number of interactive whiteboards in the school has increased from one to 26 in less than three years.

Clare Morris, ICT curriculum area leader at Baxter College, said: "The whiteboards have generated an entirely new method of teaching. Students are more engaged, willing to take part in lessons and have increased confidence when standing in front of their peers, completing exercises."

l Excellent interaction: pictured, from left, are Baxter College pupils, Charlotte Auger, 15, school principal, Dave Seddon, ICT curriculum area leader, Clare Morris, with Promethean lead training consultants, Stewart Hargreaves, David Gregg and student, Becky Price.