The Maryport community has come together to back Netherhall School's bid to create the first teacherless classroom in Cumbria.

Businesses and individuals have rallied to donated the £22,000 needed to allow the school to open a dedicated Self Organised Learning Environment classroom.

The project, also known as the School in the Cloud, will be launched at the school at Easter.

The classroom will feature computers and big screens pupils can use to work together to research and discuss the answers to set questions.

One of the requirements of a Sole classroom is that it is attractive to the pupils, meaning it needs comfortable and colourful furniture, posters on the wall and sofas to sit on to discuss their learning, potentially discovering answers beyond the basic curriculum.

There will be a space outside the room for a teacher to supervise the lesson without unnecessarily interfering in the learning process.

Sole is a radical learning method pioneered by educationalist Sugata Mitri, who spoke in Maryport last year.

His controversial theory that schools are not necessary may be radical but his message inspired local teachers including Ian Russell.

He said: "I got the go-ahead to raise money for a SOLE space here and have now been given permission by our new head, David Tromans, to get it up and running.

"The teacher merges into the background and observes as learning happens."

The project will be led by IT teacher Kyle Brown.

Netherhall staff have visited Greenfield School in Newton Aycliffe, the nearest Sole school in the North.

Mr Russell said he came back even more enthusiastic about the project.

He said the heads of feeder schools for Netherhall have bought into the project and he is excited about what it will do for the future of children in the area.

All students will have the chance to try the Sole project.