Pupils get into the surgical spirit..

FEELING queasy . . . Joanna Mazur (13), Amira Allen (14) and Taylor Bowden (13) dissect a pig's head.

STRONG stomachs and steady hands were needed when the school hall at Hathershaw College was transformed into a real operating theatre

Pupils donned surgical scrubs when they dissected pigs heads, hearts and lungs and carried out other procedures on a dummy human containing pig organs.

A total of 60 Year 9 pupils who are studying combined science took part in the sessions which were held by the organisation Operating Theatre Live which aims to inspire more people from different backgrounds to go into medicine.

The surgery was a chance for pupils to find out if they might be able to cope with the realities of becoming a surgeon, paramedic or midwife. They also found out more about different medical careers and the grades needed for college and university courses.

Sahrish Mir, head of biology at Hathershaw, said: "The pupils enjoyed getting dressed up and getting hands-on with organs and equipment they don't get usually work with in the classroom.

"There were some unpleasant smells, but they held their nerve well and all stomachs were steady."

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