A Pathfinder IT project at a school in Essex is using internet-based e-learning to cut back its reliance on supply teachers.

Philip Morant School and College in Colchester has worked with Hewlett Packard, Microsoft and reseller Ramesys to develop a learning centre to offer 120 students access to online lessons.

The project means that teachers no longer have to cover for absent colleagues during their own free periods, and reduces the administration and financial burden of arranging supply cover at short notice.

It is one of 32 Pathfinder projects around the country using IT to address teacher workload issues.

A recent Ofsted report found that a significant number of secondary schools spend in excess of £50,000 a year employing temporary teachers, with some spending over £150,000.

At the same time the number of short-term supply teachers fell by 2,100 to 17,500 in 2002, according to figures from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).

"IT is transforming the way we work, freeing teachers to do what they do best: teach," said Russell Moon, head teacher at Philip Morant School and College.

"In the absence of the class teacher, the ability to continue to follow the curriculum through access to interactive, online learning is a major step forward.

"Every teacher can use email to collaborate with colleagues and download pre-prepared lesson plans."

The project uses Microsoft Class Server technology to schedule and allocate online learning to students, and SharePoint, a new Microsoft tool for online collaboration.

The system has reduced staff workloads by guaranteeing teachers a minimum of three hours per week 'non-contact' time, and Moon is confident that workloads will reduce by a further four hours to 49 hours per week by next year.

"It means students can be flexible about when they learn using world class materials," he said. "Long term we're looking for a connected learning community that will be available to all schools within the next three years."

Each desktop in the school's learning centre cost about £1,000, in addition to a set-up cost of up to £20,000 for a wireless network. The purchase has been partly funded by the DfES.

The Microsoft software has been given to the school on a trial basis for the next two years.