Parents are going back to school to keep up with their children's computer skills.

Heaton Primary School in Bradford is offering computer courses to mums and dads of the school's pupils, giving them the chance to catch up with their children's technical wizardry.

Bradford Council is funding the free taster course for eight parents as part of its life-long learning programme.

Head teacher Bev Ledra said: "Some of the parents want to help their children with their homework. They're saying their children are very able on the computers and they want to catch up.

"Also within the workplace we have to be technologically competent, it's a requirement for work now, and this is preparing them for work."

Some of the parents were returning to learning and work after spending time at home with children while they were young, and were now looking to gain new skills, said Mrs Ledra.

She was delighted at the good response from parents to the training offer, and the course was oversubscribed.

A tutor will come into school for a morning each week until Easter to teach parents computer skills. The first course is a taster, but Mrs Ledra hopes that future programmes will lead to recognised qualifications.

The course is taught in the school's National Grid for Learning suite, funded by the Government's scheme to increase computers in education.

And Mrs Ledra said the school -- formerly Heather Grove First School - hoped to offer more learning opportunities for parents and the local community in the future.

"This is our starting point, providing a service for parents as well as the public and becoming an integral part of the community. We are all here as learners throughout our lives."

Parent Angela Freeman, who has sons Martin, ten, and nine-year-old Mark at the school, said she wanted to keep up with her children's technical abilities.

"I knew they did computing at school and I thought it would be an idea for me to learn it as well, so I understand what they've been doing."

A Bradford Council education spokesman said: "It is one of the first courses to be supported by the LEA and the Department for Education's Lifelong Learning fund to promote community access to learning and information technology skills.

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