CINEMAS in Tavistock and Okehampton will be taking part in National Schools Film Week in October, bringing film to hundreds of schoolchildren.

Children from Whitchurch Primary School near Tavistock will be among those taking part with a free trip to the cinema and other schools are being invited to join in.

The festival's goal is to support classroom teaching by providing schools with a powerful experience for their students that links directly to the elements of the curriculum — supported by an online library of resources related to individual films and more generic topics.

Some 470,000 students and their teachers attended the festival in 2011 and this year there will be 2,500 screenings at 570 cinemas across the UK.

The Wharf in Tavistock will be showing 'Hugo' (U) on October 22 and on October 23 'A Turtle's Tale: Sammy Adventures (U) will be on.

Okehampton's New Carlton Cinema will be showing 'Brave' (PG) on October 22, 'Dr Seuss' The Lorax (U), including for the sensory impaired, and 'Rango' (PG) on October 24.

Festival director Nick Walker said: 'The festival seeks to create a greater awareness and understanding of cinema based on the concept of relationships and dialogues in a variety of films, address issues of cultural exchange and raise awareness amongst teaching professionals of the use of film across the school curriculum.

'This is achieved by in-cinema talks and on-line resources, which give teachers the tools to encourage students to explore and understand new cinematic worlds.'

Teacher at Whitchurch Primary School Lindsay Hobbs said: 'Enjoying this experience altogether as a class and friends is an opportunity they don't often share.

'A lot of the children have never been to the cinema before so it's a great opportunity.

'The children gain a sense of community by all taking this trip altogether.

'They also learn about road safety, teamwork and rules and regulations so it's the whole experience that counts. The cinema experience itself is so exciting and they get a buzz from it.'

Teachers can book their free tickets online at: http://www.nationalschoolsfilmweek.org">www.nationalschoolsfilmweek.org