Youngsters accelerate learning

Calls have been made for driving lessons in school

A school in Wrexham which is giving pupils as young as 12 driving awareness sessions in the run up to the school holiday wants the subject to be part of the national curriculum.

Ninety youngsters at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in the Rhosnesi area of the town are being given the chance to get behind the wheel of a car in the school playground.

The 15-minute session in a dual-control car is the culmination of the sessions being provided free-of-charge by an independent company.

As well as driving a car, pupils are being taught about what makes a good or bad driver, including following road signs, traffic controls, and the consequences of joyriding.

Aneurin Roberts, deputy head master at the 780-pupil school, said he believed the skills learnt were easily transferable to life skills.

Ysgol Morgan Llwyd's pupils have got behind the wheel

"The idea is if you catch them young enough you can avoid problems in the future," he said.

"If the children can see the effects of joyriding on their families and the victims they may be less likely to offend in the future."

Potential motorists will also be taught about the dangers of driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs and talking on mobile telephones whilst behind the wheel.

The scheme is run by Flintshire based company Minding Driving Ltd.

National Curriculum

Spokesman John Smith said they are happy to help youngsters become more responsible drivers.

They have even suggested that the subject could become part of the National Curriculum.

However, John Valentine Williams from the Qualification, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales, said changing subjects around was not that easy.

"It's very encouraging that a school like Morgan Llwyd is enterprising enough to provide for their pupils in this fashion," he said.

"However, the question of whether it should go into the National Curriculum is a different matter.

"If you put it into the National Curriculum you make it a requirement and you make it a requirement for all schools."