Acomb First School complete Skills Builder's Crime Scene Challenge

Acomb First School created a crime scene with the help of the Hexham Neighbourhood Policing team to build on 'Acomb Skills', which are eight essential life skills identified as supporting children to become successful adults. 

These include listening, speaking, problem-solving, creativity, staying positive, aiming high, leadership and teamwork.

Pupils had to identify fingerprints (Image: Acomb First School)

The first school has worked with the Skills Builder Partnership and hopes to achieve a gold award for this by the end of the year.

Acomb First School took on the Crime Scene Challenge from Skills Builder. The crime scene was set up with clues, the Hexham Neighbourhood Policing team arrived with a police car as the children got to school and set the challenge for the children to support the police in solving the crime. 

Throughout the day, they investigated the crime scene, were presented with key pieces of evidence that linked to four suspects, listened to CCTV recordings of the crime and matched fingerprints.

The Crime Scene Challenge in action (Image: Acomb First School)

Each activity the children completed was linked to one of the Acomb Skills to develop their abilities.

Hannah Williamson, headteacher, said: "Our crime scene day was a huge success. The children have thoroughly enjoyed investigating the crime and have all developed their knowledge of the eight Acomb Skills.

"We really value the importance of developing skills in children from the very start of their education which will help them to become successful adults and our work with Skills Builder makes this very effective.

Hexham Neighbourhood Policing team arrived at the school to help with the activity (Image: Acomb First School)

"The children's passion and knowledge of the skills is incredible. I would like to thank our amazing staff team for all of their hard work in setting up the day and also the Hexham Neighbourhood Policing team for their support in making this a huge success."

Raven, aged 7, said: "I have had a fantastic day learning about all the skills. I have been staying positive and being creative and solving problems. I think the person who committed the crime was Goldilocks because her fingerprints matched." 

Elijah, aged 6, said: "I have loved all of the stuff we have been doing because they have been really fun tasks that help us to use our Acomb Skills."