We’ve got crime cracked!
Reporter: ANDREW RUDKIN
Date published: 02 August 2011
Photo: Anthony Miller
INVESTIGATORS... Harry McNamara, Gregory Godwin, Ella Lovelady and Holly Frazer at Saddleworth School.
Students turn sleuth on CSI Day
WOULD-BE criminologists cracked a murder case in Saddleworth and a mystery in Werneth.
Young crime scene investigators from Saddleworth School had discovered a body in a secluded car park while even younger sleuths were solving a jewels theft at St Augustine’s RC School.
Fortunately the police were not called in, as these were both mock-up forensic science events.
In Saddleworth, 32 young scientists received high acclaim for their crime-solving skills, such as DNA fingerprinting, blood spatter analysis and anthropology.
They were so good, the school is now the best in the land for its crime-solving abilities says educational company, Aspire, which runs the event, Dead on Time.
Aspire director Mathew Hackett, said: “We have worked with teachers and pupils from the school for past six years and we are continually impressed by the commitment, creativity and determination to achieve the very best.
“The investment made by the school in their pupils and the strength of support offered by parents is a true example of excellence.
Working in Saddleworth is one of the genuine highlights of my year.”
The skills and techniques the students gained are equivalent to those learned when studying for a BTEC in forensic science.
Head teacher Patricia Cornish said: “We are delighted with this achievement for our students. It is a reflection of the quality of the students learning and the teachers’ teaching at our school.”
Meanwhile, St Augustine’s held its first event for gifted and talented primary school pupils with children taking part in a range of problem solving and forensic testing to determine who took the jewels.
More than 80 pupils took part from Year-5 classes and St Augustine’s Year-7. Its next event in the autumn term will be a “University Challenge” style quiz called Top of the Class with schools competing twice a year for a trophy.
