By Kim Catcheside Social affairs correspondent, BBC News

Some teachers believe large classes hinder learning

On a good day in August there's probably nowhere better to be than Clacton-on-Sea.

But on a grey, rainy day in November it's easy to understand why this town has some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in Essex.

Bishops Park College serves those neighbourhoods, and for the past five years it's been a pioneer of the "small schools" movement in the UK.

The college is divided into three distinct "schools", called Windmills , Lighthouses and Towers.

There's room for 250 children in each and all three have their own teaching staff who cover the whole curriculum.

Our staff have the time to build up strong relationships with the children and with their parents Peter Robinson Principal Call for smaller schools

Pupils share areas like the library and the dining room, but they have lunches and breaks at different times.

The principal, Peter Robinson, is convinced the small-school model is particularly suited to the needs of vulnerable children.

"We don't have the factory style model of many big schools where children can easily feel lost and isolated," he says.

"The relationship with the teachers is absolutely pivotal. In a large school teachers may only see a pupil once a week.

"Our staff have the time to build up strong relationships with the children and with their parents.

"That makes the children feel safe and secure - and that's the best foundation for learning."

Good relationships

Frances Holloway, the senior teacher in charge of Windmills school, says the opportunity to bond with pupils is the reason she came to Bishops Park.

"I'm convinced that it's a very powerful way to organise learning. In my last job I probably taught 250 children a week and now I teach 80 or 90, so I know them really well.

'Cos the classes are small the teachers get to know you better Katie A pupil

"I can tell you how they are doing simply because I know them. We work together a lot as co-learners and so that relationship is really important."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, pupils are equally positive.

"I think it stops a lot of arguments, " says 14-year-old Katie.

"Yes, " chimes in 13-year-old Jamie, "'cos it's not too crowded."

"'Cos the classes are small the teachers get to know you better," adds 14-year-old Lauren. "I came from a traditional school and when I came here, although it was very different, I liked it and I think I learn more."

Critics argue that small schools struggle to provide a wide enough curriculum and they can find it difficult to recruit specialist teachers.

Peter Robinson confirms he's had difficulty getting science teachers to Bishops Park and standards in science have suffered as a result.

Academic challenges

Only 39% of the school's 14-year-olds reached the expected level in science in last year's national tests.

There are signs that while the school is certainly strong in nurturing its pupils, it has performed less well academically.

There have been no permanent exclusions and no teen pregnancies - a notable success for this deprived part of Essex.

But only 16% of pupils got five good GCSE's last year, including English and maths - just over a third of the national average.

The school is also a bit too small for comfort. The three units are supposed to have 750 pupils - but because of falling rolls in that part of Essex, almost a third of the places are empty.

As a result the county council is planning to consult on a proposal to allow another school on the other side of Clacton to take over Bishops Park.