Professor Richard Wiseman says conjuring boosts children's self-confidence and social skills. "Learning magic requires self-discipline, an understanding of how other people think and an ability to entertain," he said. "And unlike computer games it encourages children to interact with their friends and family."

Researchers tried out his theory by sending 50 children in Hertfordshire to magic school. They learned to repair a rope cut in half and did a Derren Brown-style mind-reading card trick. They later performed in front of friends and family.

They were tested two weeks later and scored higher in confidence and social skills than their classmates who had been to conventional personal and health lessons. Prof Wiseman told the British Association of Science Festival in Liverpool: "We would like to roll this out nationally as part of the national curriculum. The success of Harry Potter means it's fun going to magic lessons. We couldn't stop them. There was a real sense of excitement."

He added: "They have to have the self-discipline to learn the trick and think it through and look at it from someone else's perspective. They also had to learn to keep a secret while being likeable."

I thought they taught magic in schools... They call it Creationism.

Some of the staff's qualifications were suspect.

The original was here