A Worcestershire primary school has gone to the top of the class after qualifying for the St John Ambulance schools mark award.

Broadheath Primary School, near Worcester, has scooped the national award, which is only given to schools that show a significant commitment to the safety and health of their pupils, workforce and community.

Broadheath is the third school in Worcestershire to be given the accolade and there are only 30 schools across the West Midlands region that hold the title.

Every year, the school trains its year six pupils in the charity’s young first aider programme and also delivers first aid training to its younger students in year four and five.

Andy Hackley, deputy headteacher at Broadheath Primary School, said staff and pupils had been delighted to receive the award.

He said: "We are very proud to have gained the St John Ambulance schools mark award.

"The training given to our pupils by St John Ambulance is excellent and they learn real life skills that are invaluable.

"We believe that learning first aid is an important part of their all round education."

Jo Huck, St John Ambulance schools training co-ordinator for the West Midlands, said: "It is absolutely fantastic that Broadheath Primary School shows such commitment to its pupils.

"First aid training teaches pupils to care for others, and other skills like communication as well as equipping them with the skills to be the difference between a life lost and a life saved."

The charity’s schools trainer Michelle James will return to Broadheath to train the next generation of life savers on Wednesday, February 12 and Thursday, February 13.

Last year, more than 10,500 young people in the West Midlands were trained through schools and the charity has a dedicated website offering schools free or low cost resources to help increase the number of young people learning first aid.

For more information about the work of St John Ambulance in schools, call 0121 237 3873 or email west-mids-training@sja.org.uk.

More information and resources is also available at teachthedifference.org.uk