Hillcroft pupils learn vital lessons from Fire Brigade visit

​Children at Hillcroft Primary School in Caterham came up with a dramatic but effective way to see off the January cold when they gathered round a burning town – in the name of education, of course.

​Fortunately for all concerned, Blue watch from Godstone Fire station had not only been told in advance, they were in fact in attendance with one of their engines.

Year Two pupils had been studying the Great Fire of London, as part of which they had built a cardboard town. Blue Watch then set light to it before putting out the flames, as part of a demonstration on the dangers of fire and how to take safety precautions.

“Despite having put in a lot of work building their cardboard town, the children were more than happy to see the Fire Brigade set light to it because it was part of such a fascinating lesson,” said class teacher Stephanie Richardson. “It was a controlled demonstration, and the best way possible to teach the children some potentially life-saving lessons in a secure environment. It also made them realise how quickly a fire can spread".

Hillcroft Primary is part of the GLF Group, a Surrey-based multi-academy chain which now runs over a dozen schools across the south east, based on a model of strong collaborative management.

“After the demonstration of how the Fire Brigade do their work, the children then got a chance to have a guided tour of the fire engine, and to find out what all the different pieces of equipment do,” added Ms Richardson.

“It was a hugely enjoyable event, and one they won’t forget in a hurry – and the most important thing is that they won’t forget the lessons they learned either. One day, that knowledge could help save lives.”