Daily Telegraph: Problem children given magic lessons in £500,000 scheme

Magic tricks were taught to unruly children in a £500,000 government scheme branded a waste of money by critics.

The Fast Forward initiative, which received a £450,000 grant, sent children from four Stoke-on-Trent schools to a magic show. Children aged between 12 and 13 who were deemed to have "confidence issues" and were often disruptive watched a puppet and magic show before making their own puppets and learning tricks.

Heather Atkinson, the project manager for Fast Forward, said: "Magic tricks are a different way of learning for the children, and it helps improve children's confidence and boost their skills."

But the TaxPayers' Alliance said: "This project is a joke. Our schools should concentrate on teaching children maths, English, science and other core subjects."