HARROW Way Community School resembled a crime scene as English and science students became detectives and criminologists for the day.

Blood splatters, fingerprints and incriminating fibres were all analysed as alibis, witness statements and suspects were investigated and interviewed.

Depending on their speciality, the students from Years 7 to 10 were either detectives or criminologists.

Those with a gift for science were tasked with examining all the physical evidence, some of which was rather gruesome.

Their English counterparts put their language skills to the test interviewing suspects, investigating alibis and looking at CCTV footage.

Teacher Vicky Thompson said: “The overall purpose of the day was the practical application of skills that you can not necessarily quantify through GCSEs.

“I really feel gifted and talented students need days like this to challenge and enthuse them.

“The day had been planned to be exciting – we had a lamb’s heart masquerading as our victim’s heart and the teachers who participated all proved to be very convincing actors.

“Underneath what was a thrilling day for the students were some very important lessons.

For the scientists there was evidence gathering, analysing these findings and drawing conclusions thereafter.

“For the English students they had to investigate, question, analyse and read between the lines – a requirement when studying literature texts but hopefully they will now see the relevance of this skill within the context of a real life.”

Science teacher Rachel Atherton said: “This exercise has required the students to apply logic and reason to what they see. However, as any good detective would tell us, there is also interpretation, ‘gut-feel’ and the ability to read people.”