Hartlepool primary school earns Gold Water Smart Schools award from Royal Life Saving Society UK
A Hartlepool primary school has landed a major national award for its commitment to promoting water safety and protecting lives.
West View Primary School has received the Gold Water Smart Schools award from Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK).
The Water Smart Schools Award provides a structured framework to help children learn important water safety lessons in class with resources provided by the charity.
Project leaders hailed West View Primary School’s submission as an example to others.
Headteacher Lauren Furness said: “This is a really important piece of work, given the school’s close proximity to the beach and open water.
“The recent tragedy at Seaton Carew reinforces just how important it is to promote water safety in schools, and our thoughts are with the two men’s families who sadly lost their lives.
“I’d like to thank everyone within the school for the work that has been undertaken to help keep our children and others safe from the vagaries of the water.”
Every year 33 children on average in England drown – the equivalent of a classroom of lost children.
Andy Lane from RLSS UK’s Water Smart Schools programme praised West View Primary’s “amazing effort across all aspects of the programme”.
Andy Brown CEO of the Ad Astra Trust, which the school is part of, said: “Water poses so many dangers whether that is the sea, rivers or reservoirs.
“The drownings at Seaton Carew recently are devastating for the families and our thoughts are with them, and everyone affected by this tragedy.
“It highlights just how important it is that we do everything we can in schools to raise awareness about water safety.”