AN independent residential school for children with severe learning difficulties is being transformed to offer its students a much broader education.

A wider range of activities, better facilities and more jobs in the community are to become reality for Womaston School, in Walton, Presteigne, after the school adopted the Essential Skills Award last September.

The school, run by MacIntyre Care, hopes basing their curriculum on the new initiative developed by Mencap, will give students the experience to lead a more independent life.

Youngsters will learn in educational, recreational and residential settings and have practical work-related experience.

They will then be encouraged to do things for themselves, make decisions, realise personal ambitions and gain essential skills for adult life.

Outside the classroom, children will work alongside domestic, administrative and maintenance staff to develop skills as well as producing art and crafts to sell in local markets in a Young Enterprise project.

The school itself is to have a major face-lift. Traditional classrooms have been replaced with learning resource areas which specialise in different functions including an IT suite, a caf and a craft studio and a new residential area in the Old Coach House building.

Staff also hope to use the grounds for more outdoor pursuits such as sports, nature studies and gardening.

Principal Martin Bertulis believes the role of the staff within the new plans is the key to the transformation.

He said: "Flexibility is the issue with teaching staff working outside classrooms and 'normal' school hours.

"It's an exciting time for everyone in the team, particularly as new roles are created and people recruited from the local community.

"Everybody who works at the school will have the opportunity to develop their own skills and get the most out of their roles, while they all feel much more involved in the achievements of the students and success of the school."

Set in 19 acres surrounded by the Radnorshire hills, the school, which was first established in 1986, provides residential care and education 24 hours a day 52 weeks a year for 16 students aged 14 to 19 years old.