AN EAST Lancashire business is looking to reduce anxiety among pupils by installing aquariums in schools.

The idea was welcomed by a teaching union, however Simon Jones, from the National Union of Teachers, said there were concerns about the amount of pressure young children were under at school.

He said the stress was caused by the targets pupils had to meet and the ‘constant testing’ they were subjected to.

However, it is hoped the fish tanks, which are installed by Feniscowles-based firm Aqualease, will go some way to addressing the problem. The company has set up one of its latest installations at Blackburn’s St Paul’s RC Primary School.

Staff there are expecting the tank and its shoal of clown fish to help reduce stress levels among the children.

It will also be used by teachers in geography and literacy lessons.

A tank has also been installed at St Michael with St John CE Primary School, in Blackburn, where staff have noticed significant reductions in pupils’ stress levels.

Sandy Cooper, from the Swallow Drive school, said: “Originally we decided on having an aquarium for the children. We thought it would help the children to calm down if they feel angry and to help them to relax a little.

“We also felt it would help some of our children who have special educational needs and would be a general point of interest for them. “Since having the aquarium we’ve found that not only does it meet our original needs, in particular those for our children with special educational needs, it has also helped the staff, as a kind of stress relief system.”

Daniel Lee, one of the company’s directors, said educational posters detailing the different species of fish had proved a big hit with youngsters.

Mr Lee said: “Aquariums are proven and very effective for calming children and reducing anxiety, whilst providing visual stimulation with bubbles and the colourful fish.

“We have really excellent feedback. We also install them in care homes and other businesses. We install them and provide fish food and service them every month.”

Aqualease, which was founded in 2003 and also has offices in Leyland, has customers across England, Scotland and Wales.

Mr Jones, who represents East Lancashire’s teachers for the NUT, said although the idea went some way to addressing increasing stress levels in children, more needed to be done to create ‘healthy learning environments’.

He said: “Kids are stressed because of the pressure in schools, caused by the culture of targets and testing.”