Stradbroke High School has become the first secondary school in Suffolk to receive the St John Ambulance Schools Mark.

The mark is awarded to schools that show a significant commitment to the safety and health of their pupils, staff and the wider community. The school achieved the award after deciding to run a St John Ambulance basic first aid course as part of an enhanced learning day.

PE teacher Dianna Firbank, who helped to organise the course, said: 'First aid training complements the syllabus for both PHSE and GCSE PE, so we ran a basic first aid course and now have the St John Ambulance Schools Mark. We also teach the Sport Leaders Award here and being able to provide first aid training as part of that course means that if pupils want to complete further Sport Leader qualifications when they leave, they have already fulfilled that training.'

'Our pupils thoroughly enjoyed the training, it was insightful and something a bit different. It's reassuring for staff to know that pupils have some basic knowledge of how to deal with minor injuries and look after a casualty.'

Tony Curd, county commander for St John Ambulance Suffolk, added: 'Stradbroke High School is to be congratulated on achieving this standard which demonstrates their commitment to learning first aid, so their students can make the difference between a life lost and a life saved.'