A SCHOOL has set up its very own casino - so pupils can develop their maths skills.

St Chad's Church in Wales Voluntary Aided Primary School in Hanmer now has its own 'Casino Royale' where pupils can dress up James Bond style, play card games and take part in other activities to enhance their logistics and maths skill-set.

Teacher Nigel Williamson came up with the idea when he noticed pupils particularly enjoyed a maths lesson involving games and felt it was a good way for them to continue learning after school.

He said: "We have an after school maths club, a Casino Royale were the pupils play maths games and card games.

"These include pontoon, Connect 4, draughts, Othello, dominoes, battleships and Chinese Checkers, or variations of these games.

"It has been running for four weeks now and has been very successful. Out of the class of 17, only two cannot take part because they have other commitments after school on a Tuesday but all the others do and really enjoy it.

"We like to use games in teaching maths anyway and this is a good way to learn logic skills."

He added: "I noticed during a maths lesson how much they enjoyed having the games out, and it occurred to me it was just like a casino so that is what we decided to do.

"It is a way for them to learn without feeling that they are in that classroom environment.

"They bring in their clothes to dress up, they have membership cards, drinks and snacks.

"It has been brilliant and we are hoping to keep it running in the long-term, introducing new games every so often."