Drowsy schoolchildren in Epsom have had their concentration levels significantly enhanced thanks to a revolutionary new lighting system according to a study.

Pupils at Epsom and Ewell High School were the first school in the UK to have the tailor-made classroom system installed last year to improve their learning environment.

The study, conducted by City University, saw year seven pupils better their test scores by up to 40 per cent, with a control group using normal lighting demonstrating no improvement in concentration levels over the same time.

There are four different lighting settings which include, normal, energy, focus and calm all of which adjust the lighting accordingly to suit the mood of the children and the time of day.

Guy Blair, deputy head, Epsom and Ewell High School said that the lighting had made a real impact in the day-to-day running of the school.

He said: “It was a real revelation. It has had an effect on learning as the study shows.

“By the end of it the kids themselves were taking control and adjusting the lighting depending on the task they were doing.

“I really think that this is a revolutionary phenomenon in education, I can see it being used throughout the country in years to come.”

Known as SchoolVision, it was installed in two of the school’s science laboratories before the start of term last September.

The findings echo those from a year long study in a primary school in Hamburg, Germany which found that, with the SchoolVision lighting system, pupil reading speeds increased by 35%, frequency of errors fell by almost 45% and restlessness was reduced by 75%.

Pupil Jack Elliot said: “I think they are really good to help you concentrate in a lesson - like when you come in, in the morning and everyone is really tired, it gets you into the work and helps you focus.”

The lighting, developed by Phillips, could be rolled out to school across the UK as early as next year.

Peter Maskell, chairman, Philips UK, said: “Lighting has been shown to have a significant effect on our mood, our energy levels and our ability to concentrate.

“Offering four different light settings, SchoolVision is based on the idea that different tasks require different levels of energy and concentration.

“SchoolVision’s four settings - Normal, Energy, Focus and Calm – produce lights of different colour and intensity to create the best atmosphere for a particular task.”