DESIGN and Technology teachers Simon Phipps and Ursula Cook, of St John's School in Marlborough, have recently returned from a three-day trip to Bielefeld in Germany.

They spent the time with other teachers and students from schools across Europe.

The Federal Partnership of European Schools organises an annual conference, offering teachers and students an opportunity to put their creative skills to use and work together as European nations.

This is the third time that St John's, the only participating British school, has been invited to take part in the three-day event.

The school representatives were asked to e-mail photos of famous buildings and landscapes to symbolise their countries. They spent the conference painting the images as a series of vibrant murals.

Mr Phipps is keen to keep the European theme alive. "Although we are geographically distanced, it was noticeable just how similar our school environments are," he said.

"Our aim is to produce some murals of our own, reflecting both European technology and the school's status as a technology college."

St John's students, alongside those in Germany, Holland and Denmark, will continue with the development of the mural project.

Headteacher Dr Patrick Hazlewood has given the arts link his full support.

"The importance of helping our children to appreciate cultural co-operation between countries should not be underestimated," he said.

"Our children have one future and it will involve much greater international co-operation. This is an excellent foundation project to begin that work."