Diverse studies in Bushey

2:36pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008

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After searching the depths for alternatives to the national curriculum, a special school in Bushey has successfully merged conventional subjects with scuba diving.

Students at Falconer School put on masks and breathing apparatus this week to launch the pioneering educational programme.

The school will combine the scuba diving lessons with science classes about the equipment involved and a series of field trips concentrating on the environment.

Paul Holop, assistant headteacher at the school, ran a similar programme in America in the 1980s and has been planning the project in Bushey for around six years.

He said: “It’s been my dream to do this for years and to have it finally happen is wonderful.

“I’m trying to incorporate a change in the curriculum. It’s good for them to be able experience something different to just science and maths.”

Mitchell Eldridge, a pupil whose special needs meant he could not take part in the diving took photographs from the side, getting tips on underwater photography and cameras on the way.

Mr Holop said: “It opens up new opportunities for the students. One boy is now interested in joining the military to do rescue and a scuba diving qualification will really help him. Another example is the photography which is also opening up some different doors.”

The classes were organised by the school with help from Steven Manton of diving firm Planet Scuba.

Following this week’s successful trial, which 16 pupils between 14 and 15 years old took part in, the full time programme will start in September as part of the science, health, and social parts of the curriculum.

The school’s French department is currently working on organising a trip to the south of France where students will be able to dive in open water and take part in a series of environmental activities.

Mr Holop said: “We will be looking at creating a garden or pond, doing a beach clean up and combining it with the diving, hopefully doing an underwater cleanup. The environment is very much in the newspapers at the moment and it is good to be able to teach people about it from an early age.

He added: “This builds a new awareness of the world around them in a way never before experienced.”

The school will also visit other swimming pools and a local quarry as part of the project.