SENIOR figures from more than 20 York businesses are preparing to swap the boardroom for the classroom tomorrow.

They are sitting in on lessons at a Back To School event at Manor CE School in Low Poppleton Lane, York.

Delegates from the likes of CPP, Norwich Union, Yorkshire Bank, chartered accountants Garbutt & Elliott, QA Research and Central Science Laboratories will observe the pupils being taught subjects such as science, ICT, child development, art history, music, English and geography. They will be on their best behaviour because they really want to better understand how they as businesses can support the education agenda.

The event has been organised by NYBEP - the North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership - York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, York Professional Initiative, the City of York Council and Science City York.

It is part of the Pathfinder Project, which has been developed to trial and implement new practice that will provide tailored pathways for 14 to 19 year olds.

The City of York local education authority was selected as a Pathfinder and four York secondary schools - Archbishop Holgate, Joseph Rowntree, Canon Lee as well as Manor CE School - are now working towards a more innovative curriculum in areas such as vocational routes, enterprise education, the pace of learning and widening available options.

After lunch in the pupils' dining room, it's off to assembly with head teacher Brian Crosby.

He will tell them of the school's background, its challenges and future plans.

Then they will file into their classrooms, each armed with a "teaching plan" outlining what will be covered in the lesson, the materials to be used and the approach the teacher will take to the subject.

Janette Gudgeon, NYBEP's business relations manager, said: "We hope that these business people will really get into the spirit of things and remind themselves of what being in a classroom was like.

"As part of the Business Forum these same delegates met in July and were asked - what do you need most from young people leaving education?

"Their response was that they wanted them to be team players; be confident enough to take risks; have the ability to apply themselves to their jobs and take responsibility; and communicate effectively.

"I hope that tomorrow's event will show them how these skills are being fostered in the classroom and suggest to them ways in which they can help."

Updated: 11:05 Monday, December 06, 2004