Safety chief teams up with teacher to prove red tape is no challenge

Date:

22 March 2012

The head of Britain's safety watchdog has paid a visit to a Welsh school to see an award-winning teacher prove that it is possible to inject excitement into education - without falling foul of red tape.

Teacher Llew Davies with Ms Hackitt at Ysgol Cae Top

Judith Hackitt visited Ysgol Cae Top in Bangor yesterday (Wednesday 21 March) to meet with teacher Llew Davies, who collected a Pride of Britain award last year for his inspirational approach to learning.

Ms Hackitt was invited to take part in one of Llew's innovative lessons, this time set around the construction of Roman siege machines, to show how science and teamwork can beat brute force.

The children were given time to create their devices before taking to the playground for a challenge to see who could fire a tennis ball the furthest across the yard.

Llew regularly takes pupils out of the classroom and gets them involved in creative experiments, proving that health and safety doesn't get in the way of a good education. In his classes, pupils have built volcanoes, studied velocity through office chair races, and much more.

Judith Hackitt said:

Judith Hackitt, observing children from Ysgol Cae Top creating their siege machines

"It's a pleasure to see children learning by having fun and gaining practical experience. These are the real life skills that children need to learn from an early age so that they're prepared to deal with whatever life throws at them.

"Ysgol Cae Top is demonstrating what is possible and more schools should follow their lead."

Llew Davies said:

"Children learn in a variety of ways but they will better remember what they're being taught if it's fun for them at the same time. Schools shouldn't be scared of health and safety. As long as a sensible approach is taken then there's nothing stopping them from trying something a bit different."

Ms Hackitt is campaigning against the use of health and safety as an excuse to prevent activities which provide valuable experiences for learning. She has publicly urged parents and teachers not to wrap children in cotton wool so that they learn how to deal with risk.

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk

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