A hundred of the brightest children in England are spending a summer break with a difference.

They are attending a summer school which will seek to challenge and motivate highly intelligent children.

The National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth is holding its first pilot summer school at the University of Warwick.

The project, to be visited by the Schools Minister David Miliband on Thursday, will stretch pupils' abilities in a way that would not be possible in a mainstream secondary school.

"It is vital that each pupil's school now works closely with the academy to make sure their experience is integrated into their everyday learning, and isn't just a one-off," said Mr Miliband.

This is the latest step in the recognition that very able pupils have particular needs - and that it should not only be the least able who need special help.

Deborah Eyre is the first director of the academy

These pupils are drawn from the top 5% of the ability range - and will spend three weeks in lessons designed to challenge the brightest young minds.

These courses will allow gifted children to study at a higher level than is usually possible in the curriculum.

There will be structured lessons and study for about six or seven days - and there will be social activities, which will allow the pupils to spend time with other gifted youngsters.

There were 520 applications for the first summer school - with most of the places allocated on the strength of teachers' recommendations and test results.

Sponsorship

The successful students are almost equally divided between male and female - and about a quarter of the students are non-white.

The largest number of pupils attending the summer school are aged 14 and 15 - and 85% are from state schools.

The largest concentrations of these bright children are in Luton and Merseyside - which between them will be sending 10 pupils.

Next year the academy wants to run a scheme for 900 gifted pupils in five centres. There will also be fees charged from next year, but the academy is hoping to raise sponsorship to cover the costs of less well-off applicants.