PUPILS at a west Wiltshire school are being given a taste of the American life by an exchange teacher.

Leon Dyer has been teaching in the ICT department at George Ward School, Melksham for the last six weeks, but has also got involved with sport lessons.

He has been giving pupils the chance to try out sports from the other side of the pond.

The teacher, from Indianapolis, has started an after-school basketball club and hopes to arrange a one-off American football event and Ultimate Frisbee before he returns to America in four weeks.

Since arriving in England, Mr Dyer has become a Liverpool football fan, and was able to enjoy the club's recent Champions League triumph with his pupils.

He said: "So far I have enjoyed the experiences given to me by the school and I look forward to the four weeks that I have left here. I know I will go home with many happy memories."

l Margaret Bryant, head of food technology at the school, has been trying to point out the dangers of eating too much fat and sugar to students.

Inspired by the documentary Super Size Me, Mrs Bryant told pupils how one packet of crisps a day would add up to three kilograms of fat a year.

Pupil Rhiannon Lambert summed up the mood when she sang Time to say Goodbye at the year 11 leavers' assembly. The Search for a Star finalist received a standing ovation for her rendition of Sarah Brightman's 1996 hit.

Pupils were treated to a barbecue and inflatable gladiators' game as a warm up to the leavers' ball in Bradford on Avon the next day.

Many of the pupils arrived at Cumberwell Golf Club, Bradford on Avon in limousines, all posing for a photographer before a three-course meal and disco.