Faith Primary Academy pupils successfully complete six-week fire and rescue course

Year 5 and 6 pupils from Faith Primary Academy have recently completed The Beacon Project programme, in association with Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service.

The unique programme, designed for children who will soon transition to secondary school, is a great way to learn practical skills such as hose drills, using breathing apparatus, hydrant skills, search and rescue techniques, as well as other community safety awareness skills.

The course encourages team building amongst the children and includes energiser and communication tasks.

During the programme, pupils had the opportunity to meet and work alongside firefighters at numerous fire service locations, including Kirkdale Community Fire Station, the Training and Development Academy and the Marine Rescue Unit.

As well as practical activities and problem-solving games, pupils took part in interactive sessions around safety, including home fire safety, road safety and first aid awareness.

In the final week, children participated in a simulated house fire drill, where they each had their own specific roles for the drill. They were able to put to use all the invaluable training and new skills they had learnt.

The culmination of the course featured a pass-out parade which was attended by parents, carers, and fire service personnel. Each pupil was presented with a framed completion certificate, along with a first aid certificate to recognise their newfound skills and knowledge.

Deputy headteacher of Faith Primary Academy, Miss Danielle Fox, said: “A huge thank you to Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service for delivering such a fantastic learning experience. This initiative not only equips our children with vital knowledge and practical skills that could potentially be life-saving, but also fosters teamwork and the development of essential communication skills.”

Charlie Hughes, from Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, commented: “We are extremely proud of the pupils from Faith Primary Academy. They have worked hard in each session and picked up new skills quickly. We hope they can continue to use their new skills and experiences as they progress through life.”