A DELEGATION from Northamptonshire County Council will fly to America next month to investigate a pioneering way of educating children outside the classroom.

The group will visit Ohio to study an alternative way of teaching young people who fail at mainstream schools.

The Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT) is the brainchild of American entrepreneur Bill Lager, who wanted to provide flexible education for youngsters who could not cope with normal schooling.

Joan Kirkbride, the council's executive member for children and young people, said: "Our manifesto set out the desire to have an education policy which saw every child treated as an individual.

"Sadly, some children get left behind and fail to receive the attention and support they need to reach their true potential.

"The ECOT offers an alternative for these children and has been offering state-funded education in Ohio for the past five years. We believe it is something which may work in Northamptonshire."

ECOT students have teachers, counsellors, class discussions, report cards, and out-of-class trips - but they use computers and internet technology to access their lessons and may never meet their classmates face to face.

The delegation flies out on December 1 for four nights, with the trip being paid for by ECOT.

The party will consist of deputy leader of the council Ben Smith, Brian Binley, Kirkbride, scrutiny committee member Malcolm Waters, head of schools Harry Darby, and leadership support manager Adam Simmonds.