London teenagers to get three hour lessons

Teachers are pioneering three-hour lessons for teenagers in London under a radical shake-up of the traditional school day.

Instead of being interrupted by bells marking the end of 50-minute classes, pupils will "get under the skin" of science or maths by spending half a day on a single subject.

The extended lessons, using the latest computer technology, will begin when the 800-pupil Hammersmith Academy opens next year. But psychologists have warned that the teenagers could struggle to maintain their concentration because computer games and television have shortened their attention spans.

Gary Kynaston, academy head, insisted longer lessons would enable knowledge to become "embedded and solidified". He said: "It's like all young people, when you're involved in an activity, when you're motivated and learning, the time goes more quickly.The day starts at 8.30am, students will be doing extended learning so lessons will either be three hours or an hour and a half long. The idea is to allow the professional in the class to really embed the learning."

The state-funded school will operate two three-hour sessions that focus on core subjects - English, maths, science and information technology.

In a third session, pupils will be free to pursue interests in other subjects, such as foreign languages, drama or computer-game design. The aim is to prepare them for the world of work by exposing them to the longer periods of concentration that will be needed in professional life.

The £30million buildings will contain the latest computer facilities. But some experts are sceptical about the benefits of extensive use of technology.

Psychologist and author Dr Aric Sigman said: "This will be a problem for teachers because they are having to deal with a population who can't pay attention," he said. "Children's attention spans have declined dramatically in a very short space of time."