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Students Get Relaxing Massages Before Exams

by Thilaka Ravi on May 6 2008 2:44 PM

Students and staff of Priory Community School in Queens Way are getting a massage to help them relax and prepare for exams.

The 30-minute massage sessions are held by experts in the alternative therapy outside of class time.  Headteacher Neville Coles hopes that results at the school will get even better with the relaxing and motivating treatments.

"At a time when we are constantly encouraging our year 11 students to be at their very best and revise for their GCSEs we also want to provide relaxation activities. Massage is just one of these," Neville Coles said.

"This is a high-pressure time for year 11 students.  We hope through massage the youngsters will feel supported and part of a school committed to doing things in new and better ways. I am yet to try it myself, “ he added.

The school spent £150 subsidizing the initial massages.   Now the 10 pupils who regularly have appointments are paying £5 for the half-hour slots.  According to the Headteacher, parental consent was required for students. 

About five teachers a week from the school were also paying for the services of Ms Etchells, a 41-year-old mother of two, in their breaks.

"Massage is only one part of our staff motivation strategy. People need to feel wanted and supported at work, “ said Headteacher Coles, who believes in having happy motivated staff.

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"Feedback from both staff and students has been overwhelmingly positive,” Mr. Coles added. Priory Community School has seen a huge improvement in students’ performance at the exams in recent years.  Last year 55 per cent of students got GCSE grades A to C, compared to only 30 per cent in 2002.

The school has announced a prize draw for year 11 students. A youngster who achieves their target grades this summer could walk away with £1,000.

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