A STUDENT from Northwood is hoping to trade the classroom for the boardroom as she prepares to take part in a conference for world leaders of the future.

Isabel Barker, a pupil at St Helen's School in Northwood, is hoping to raise enough money to take part in a Global Young Leader's conference in America as a representative for Great Britain.

The 15-year-old is looking for funding for the trip, which would see her travelling to Washington DC and New York to take part in a conference for the Congressional Youth Leadership Council in July 2005.

She said: "The conference brings exceptionally high-achieving students from around the world to an interactive programme. It enables interaction with politically prominent men and women from around the globe and is a unique and compelling opportunity."

The conference takes so-called "gifted" students from across the globe to discuss world problems and try and come up with solutions.

Isabel said: "It would be a great honour and a privilege to be able to undertake the challenges this conference entails. Attending will enable me to develop my leadership skills and reach my career goals."

Isabel is one of four students chosen from her school to take part in the event. She said she was picked on academic merit and then had to fill out an application form, which was approved by the US office.

She said: "It would be a good opportunity to broaden my horizons. I'm quite interested in politics and thought it would be interesting to go. There are going to be quite a lot of students from all over the world."

Last year's conference was attended by a UN spokeswoman and high profile political figures are expected to attend.

Isabel said: "I'm interested mostly in issues involving politics of the world today things like the Kyoto agreement and war in Iraq.

"It's a great opportunity for young people to branch out and it will encourage people from all different sectors of society to work together to solve world problems."

The cost of the travel and entrance fee for the event is £2,000.

Any local business interested in sponsoring Isabel can telephone her on 01923 835593.