STUDENTS at Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College (CBEC) were mad as a hatter as they finished of a terms work load.

The school in Wessex Close, has been implementing themed learning as part of its English curriculum.

Recently students in Year 8 have been using Alice in Wonderland and to finish off the term of learning hosted their very own Mad Hatters Tea Party, with craft making and tea party themed games.

The idea of themed learning is that a base text, on this particular occasion it was Alice in Wonderland, acts as the basis for the students learning. So whether it be creative writing or analysing text it will all focus around one theme.

Second in English at CBEC Vicky Phinn said: “Since we introduced this method of learning we have found that students are much more responsive and involved as it is a form of hands on learning.

“By adapting a theme to run throughout what they are learning it makes them more focused and embedded into the text they are learning about.”

During the Mad Hatters Tea Party students were challenged to come up with their wackiest hat designs they could.

Headteacher at CBEC, Jane Aplin, said there is a big focus on literature at the school and having seen how well students have responded to the themed learning it could cross over to other subjects.

Mrs Aplin said: “I think working this way is best for our students as it makes them feel involved in every aspect of the curriculum.

“For the students it is all about bringing the books to life and making what they are learning about fun and enjoyable.

“What we want is for children to live what they are learning and giving them the tools to do so.”