Weston College has become the first educational establishment in the world to take part in a new teaching support technique by a local company.

The new business, Puzzlebox Potential, which is based in Banwell is specialises in helping students of all ages and abilities use mind-mapping and visual techniques to help with learning and revision. Mind mapping is a way of using diagrams to represent ideas or tasks, usually arranged around a central key word or idea to help visualise and structure learning.

It was set up by last year by Nick Hodder, aged 33 from Worle and Simon Pearson, aged 41 from Banwell.

Mr Pearson, who has a form of cerebral palsy, understood the need for alternative ways of learning as he was one of the first children with special needs to go into a mainstream school.

He said: “It was a very steep learning curve. My physical differences have never held me back but I found studying a struggle.

“When I left I worked in IT for supermarkets, charities and as a teacher. All the time I felt there was an easier way to absorb information and train teachers and support students. Now we’ve achieved that goal.”

Mr Pearson said by working with the organisation Education Development International (EDI) Puzzlebox Potential are now the only company globally to focus on mind-mapping in terms of education and to develop qualifications for it.

He said: “Our aim is that every school gets access to this alternative way of learning and gain qualifications as they do.”