CHULMLEIGH Community College has launched a new, high-tech computer system that links all five schools in its academy trust.

The college and the four primary schools in the trust – Chulmleigh, Burrington, Lapford and East Worlington – all had different computer systems that could not link up.

Now, despite being told it could not be done, the three information technology staff have created a network so that every computer in every school can talk to every other computer.

Network manager Mark Stabb explained: "We have developed a wide area network so that all five schools are linked to each other as well as back to the centre.

"It operates like a spider's web so you can go around the edges as well as back to the centre.

"It means any member of staff or students can go anywhere across the network and log in using the same user name and password."

This has been particularly useful for backroom staff who are based across the trust so they can access all the relevant sites they need to administer such as payroll."