An Ely author is leading a study into the benefits of telling stories in classrooms.

Chip Colquhoun will train teachers at St Mary’s Junior School in Ely to help them make more use of stories in their classrooms.

He said: “Storytelling would have died out long ago if it hadn’t been an important part of education.

“But despite so many teachers and parents advocating its use, it has never been a requirement of the National Curriculum.

“In fact, it ceases even to be a recommendation once children are over the age off seven.”

The training is part of research being carried out by the University of Cambridge.

“The research will go a long way to proving whether there’s any point telling stories in classrooms,” added Mr Colquhoun.

“If we show there is, then the Government will have a good reason to make it a requirement – perhaps helping us return to our glory days when the UK produced creative minds.”

Chip’s training begins this month and will continue until March.

The final research paper is expected to be issued by the University of Cambridge in August.