Bishop Perowne Church of England College was the first secondary school in the country to complete the Water Smart Schools accreditation – a brand-new initiative by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), which seeks to help children in primary and secondary schools achieve water safety skills for life.

Pupils at the Worcester school have been actively engaged in the Water Smart School programme since it agreed to become a pilot school for the project in spring last year. Students from each year group learned about staying safe around all types of water. Among various tasks, the programme includes practical lessons researching signage at the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, water safety announcements published in student bulletins, and lessons about the dangers of being near frozen rivers and lakes, through their PSHE lessons and Character Education in form time. 

The Water Smart School programme resonates with Bishop Perowne in particular, as the school is located near a canal and the River Severn. Each year, tragic water-related accidents remind all those based in the school of the inherent dangers in seemingly tranquil water bodies like lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. The school shared in its own words:

“Water safety is not just a lesson but a vital life skill for our community”.

Sadly, as a school community, since 2009 there have been two ex-pupils who lost their lives in water related incidents after they left school. Both male and both 18 years old when they tragically drowned. Therefore, there are staff who currently work at Bishop Perowne that are supporting this initiative in honour of students who they taught, knew and grieved for.  

Through this programme, Bishop Perowne aims to continue to ensure that students are well-informed and equipped to be able to make safe decisions around these areas, which will be instilled lifelong learning. 

Pauline Mason, Subject Leader for Personal, Social, Health and Economical (PHSE) at Bishop Perowne, said: “It has been an extremely positive experience so far, and our students have been very engaged in the conversations. Remaining safe around water all year round is an important issue, and we hope more secondary schools get involved and begin working with the RLSS UK.”

She added: “The Water Smart School programme aligns perfectly with our PSHE curriculum intent, which is to provide children with the knowledge and skills to keep themselves happy, healthy and safe – as well as to prepare them for life and work during their time at Bishop Perowne CofE College and beyond”.

Bishop Perowne’s efforts extend beyond the classroom, encouraging students to participate in swimming lessons and other water-based activities at local swimming baths, emphasising the importance of water safety.

The school is currently fundraising for RLSS UK and acknowledging RLSS UK’s contributions to water safety by hosting a raffle. They are also collecting data on student participation in swimming and other aquatic activities to better tailor RLSS UK’s educational efforts, as well as encouraging continued awareness about water safety in the community, including seasonal advisories like winter ice warnings and flood warnings.

Through these comprehensive efforts, Pauline added: “We're not just educating but also actively safeguarding our students, ensuring they're equipped with the knowledge and skills to enjoy water safely. We look forward to continuing this vital work and further enhancing RLSS UK’s Water Smart School programme”.