REVISION on mobiles and courses on iPhones are just a couple of the latest hi-tech developments sweeping across North Somerset schools.

From iPods and iPads to Wi-Fi and podcasts, many schools across the district appear to be moving with the times, by updating old systems and forking out cash for the latest cutting-edge learning equipment.

Churchill Community School pupils can now download revision podcasts on their mobiles, Worle Community School will soon have wireless internet across the entire site, and students at Weston College can even choose to study a course on mobile applications.

All schools are also preparing for the onset of ‘cloud computing’ which will see hard-drives made redundant and students saving work on a specific internet space – referred to as the ‘cloud’.

Worle Community School’s media technician, Alan Kendall, said: “These developments in schools are all part of the digital age that we are now living in, so when the students leave to pursue jobs they will be au fait with the technologies.”

Mr Kendall said IT students at the Redwing Drive school will soon have access to iPads and later this year there will be Wi-Fi in all areas.

The studio used by A-level music students has also made the switch to digital equipment.

Year 11 pupils at Churchill now have access to more than 175 hours of revision across nine subjects in the form of audio-visual podcasts, after the school subscribed to the GCSEPod initiative this month.

The sessions are available through the school’s website and allow students unlimited access and means they can use their mobile devices for learning.

Priory Community School now encourages students to bring their own technology into school to use in the cyber cafe areas.

It uses Twitter and You Tube to communicate with pupils and also has a student managed website.

Priory principal Neville Coles said: “Of course schools need to move with the times but technology does not replace excellent face-to-face teaching.”

Technology-savvy students from Weston College are being offered the chance to sign up for a new contemporary course.

Sessions in mobile application development are being run at its University Campus in Loxton Road on Saturday and on June 18 at a cost of �600.

The devised ‘app’ will then be assessed, giving students the chance to gain six University of Bath credits which can be used towards a higher education award.