SCHOOLS NEWS
SIXTH form students have learned skills which could help them to save a life.
Health and social care pupils at Alder Grange’s Sixth Form, ag6, were given lessons from Rossendale Community First Responders.
In two two-hour classes, the Year 12s gained skills including CPR, how to put someone in the recovery position and dealing with choking, serious bleeding and a suspected heart attack.
They practised CPR using ‘Little Anne’ manikins and also familiarised themselves with how to use a defibrillator.
The sessions follow on from a first aid training day in 2016, during which all pupils were taught CPR as part of the nation’s Restart a Heart Day.
This year’s lessons were led by Dawn Taylor, with help from fellow first responders Alan Scowcroft and Emily Totty, as part of the British Heart Foundation’s Heartstart programme. Dawn said: “The training is really important, especially for young people. They need the confidence to know that they can do it.
“Another person trained is potentially another life saved.”
Sue Salt, health and social care teacher at ag6, said: “The sessions have been great for the class. A lot of them will go on into careers in the health and social care sector or childcare settings, so it will be of invaluable use to them.
“Dawn, Alan and Emily have been fantastic, they really engaged the class. We’re very grateful to them for coming down for the lessons.”
Year 12 pupil Nicola Elliot, from Rawtenstall, said she found the training very beneficial. She added: “The training has come at a good time, as I’m currently working towards my gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which it will help towards.
“It was good to actually get hands-on experience with the manikins.
“We enjoyed it but realise from listening to Dawn, Alan and Emily how important the training actually is.” A HASLINGDEN primary school has been placed in the top two per cent in the country for Key Stage 2 achievement.
Pupils and staff at St Mary’s RC Primary School are celebrating after receiving a surprise letter from Westminster with the news.
The letter from Nick Gibb, the minister of state for school standards, informed headteacher Donna McNicoll that the school was in the top 2pc in England for the progress pupils make in reading, writing and mathematics between Key Stage 1 and 2.
This is the second year running that good news has come from parliament, as last year the school made it into the top 3pc.
Miss McNicoll, who has been headteacher of St Mary’s for 11 years, said: “This is a very small school so we were really delighted and surprised to receive a second consecutive letter.
“To get one in a lifetime is a big achievement but to get two surpasses all expectations.
“It’s great, not just for the community, but for the whole of Lancashire.
“We make sure that every child achieves to the maximum potential, regardless of their starting point.”