West Norfolk students learn about perils of alcohol

The potential dangers of alcohol were brought into stark focus when a theatre show visited a West Norfolk school recently

Actors from the Smashed Project showed students at Marshland High School the perils of teenage drinking, and gave them alternative scenarios of how to handle the situation - which they then acted out.

“It is always important for students to understand the risks of underage drinking, and to hear about in in such an interactive way from people more their age helped them understand it a lot more,” said Lydia Beatty, head of PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education) at the school, a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

She added that the students, from Year 8, thought it had been a good way to get the message across about the problems around drinking.

“It was funny, but still showed the importance and relevance of understanding the dangers,” said one.

The interactive theatre experience is part of the Smashed Project which also offers online resources for teachers to deliver learning objectives in the classroom. Topics include the social and emotional causes for drinking, the impact on young lives and where and how to help yourself.

“Smashed empowers young people to explore the themes raised through a natural fascination with the characters and their choices. What attitudes drove them to do what they did? How do they feel now? What could they do differently to get a better outcome?” says a statement from the project.

“Students learn to recognise social dynamics at play, personal responsibility, decision making and communication.”