TWO South Lakeland schools collaborated with cutting-edge technology to investigate the problem of affordable housing in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The ten week project involved Year Five pupils from Sedbergh Primary School working closely with design specialists at Settlebeck School in the town.

Students investigated possible sites for affordable housing and then designed their own solutions for this topical problem.

The nine-year-olds used specialist computer-aided design software and 3D printers to model their ideas.

The project culminated in a detailed presentation made by the students.

As well as the teachers involved in the project, present at the showcase were Jim Atkins, chair of Sedbergh Parish Council, Paul Beach, deputy head of Settlebeck School and Anna Atkins, governor of Sedbergh Primary School.

Headteacher of Sedbergh Primary School, Matt Towe, was delighted with the project and its outcomes.

"Our pupils have benefitted significantly, not only from having access to high quality facilities and expertise, but also by regularly visiting a secondary school environment and beginning to understand the opportunities they will encounter once they move on from their primary education," he said.

"They have really enjoyed themselves and learned loads. The project created by design teacher, David Jermy, is a brilliant blueprint for how future collaborative projects between schools could lead to improved outcomes for children and successful transition to secondary school."

Lynsey Goodyear, head of Lower School at Settlebeck School added: "We decided to offer Sedbergh Primary the services of our internationally recognised 3D printing specialists in order to enrich their understanding of design. In addition, it demonstrates the unique opportunities available to them on their doorstep. It is great to see such creative thinking from such young minds."