A FAIRFORD school has been praised for going the extra mile to teach its pupils about road safety.

Farmor’s School, on Leafield Road, has become the first to get involved in all of the schemes and course available in the county.

On Tuesday, the secondary school completed the set by hosting a ‘Drive for Life’ day-long workshop for its pupils.

220 students were given the day off from lessons to take part, including listening to first-hand accounts of the wide-ranging effects of a fatal road accident as well as completing practical exercises.

Emma White, head of sixth form, said: “We are delighted to be part of this initiative to promote safer driving for young people in Gloucestershire and are very grateful to all the services and volunteers who are giving up their time to make this experience as real as possible for our students.

“Although their A-Levels are important, making good, informed decisions when driving is invaluable and it is good to see both our students and parents seeing this as a vital part of their education.”

Gloucestershire police and crime commissioner Martin Surl, who has prioritised making the county’s roads safer, said: “Farmor’s commitment is very welcome.

"All the evidence shows that young drivers are one of the most vulnerable groups of road users and it’s imperative we do all we can to prepare and protect them as far as possible.

“Whilst it’s true that most of our schools have taken part in at least one of the courses, I hope they follow Farmor’s example and go on to complete the set.”

‘Drive for Life’ is just one of the initiatives organised by Gloucestershire’s Road Safety Partnership (RSP).

The partnership also works alongside roadshow What if? and The Box Clever Theatre Company, a group which puts on interactive play The Passenger.

RSP also promotes a local version of tuition programme Drive iQ and Wrecked, which highlights the danger of driving under the influence of drink and drugs.

Later this year the partnership will introduce a new project called ‘Eyes on the road’.

A statement from chief officer Stewart Edgar, RSP director of operations and Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service’s chief officer Stewart Edgar, said: “Nobody means to harm or hurt anybody while driving and we aim to give students the tools to ensure it does not happen to them or their friends.

“Being confronted with the reality and hearing from those who have lost loved ones can be tough but it’s the most effective way to help students understand the consequences of making poor driving choices.”

A number of outside organisations also supported Farmor’s ‘Drive for Life’ day, including the Institute of Advanced Motoring, Kwikfit and the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity.

Between 2006 and 2015, 20 young people lost their lives in road traffic collisions in the Cotswold district, while 118 young people were seriously injured.

An 18-year-old driver is more than three times as likely to be involved in a crash as a 48 year-old, according to RSP.

One in five new drivers has a crash within six months of passing their test.

Young male drivers aged 17-20 are seven times more at risk than all female drivers, while between the hours of 2am and 5am their risk is 17 times higher.