Period education bus visits schools in Exeter

Five schools in the South West last week hosted an award-winning educational bus from betty for schools, designed to teach young women about periods in a more open and engaging way.

Pupils at North Petherwin Primary School, The Maynard School and St James’ School Exeter experienced the interactive activities on board the ‘betty bus’ as part of its tour of the UK.

During the bus visits, female pupils from the South West took part in the one-hour sessions with trained facilitators helping explore how periods can affect them both physically and emotionally, and encouraging them to ask questions that they may not feel comfortable raising in the classroom. In co-ed schools, boys were offered the opportunity to take part in separate sessions on puberty, focusing on their understanding and attitude towards this perfectly natural time of month. Parental sessions on the bus are also available dependent on demand.

The ‘betty bus’ has been designed to support and enhance learning from ‘betty for schools’, a curriculum-linked period education programme for teachers of pupils aged 8-12, which was launched at the Education Show in Birmingham in March.

The programme of free resources has been created together with education experts and young people and is accredited by the PSHE Association. There is also a section on the www.bettyforschools.co.uk website for parents, with advice and information to help them tackle conversations with their children about periods with confidence.

Becky Hipkiss, Education Manager at betty for schools comments: “We’re really excited to continue our tour of the betty bus and our mission to encourage open, respectful and honest conversations about periods and the way they affect girls.

“It’s having a really positive impact on both teachers and pupils. Our research shows that 94% of girls and boys who have received bus visits find them useful and 98% of teachers think the bus is a fun and interactive experience for the kids. That’s why we’re so delighted to be touring our first, and second, newly commissioned betty bus at once this year, doubling our impact by engaging with more young people and teachers.

“After such a great stop off in South West we hope that the betty bus will continue to provide a fun and welcoming space for girls across the UK to talk frankly about periods as it continues its tour.”

Emma Godwin, Year 5/6 Teacher at North Petherwin Primary School, added: “The visit from the betty bus has been really beneficial for our students – they had the chance to ask all the questions that might otherwise not have asked, and it has helped them feel relaxed, engaged, and open when it comes to talking about periods.

“It has also helped our teachers feel empowered to talk more openly about this topic – not always an easy one to address – and I think we’re now in a much better position to break down the stigma surrounding periods for our students.”

Teachers can apply for a free visit from the betty bus for their pupils by registering their interest at www.bettyforschools.co.uk The free betty for schools PSHE resources are also available to download from this site.