A DIGITAL health programme combining special mobile phone apps with the national curriculum is being rolled out across a borough's schools.

The move follows the scheme being successfully trialled last year.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s ‘Digital Healthy Schools’ programme will help secondaries schools in the borough creatively engage young people in managing their own health, through the use of mobile apps.

Through assemblies and hands-on workshops, pupils will be encouraged to learn more about health conditions whilst exploring the topic of app development and app reviews in Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education and science lessons.

Pupils will be given advice on what to look for in an app around safety, data security and clinical effectiveness.

Schools had the testing the programme last year included Witton Park Academy and St Thomas’s Centre in Blackburn.

Cllr Brian Taylor, the borough's health boss, said: "Apps are a safe way to learn more about your own health and, by increasing children’s knowledge in this area, they will be able to safely engage with these valuable tools."

Steve Archer, a teacher at Witton Park Academy, said: "Using apps is second nature to young people, they embraced the programme immediately.

"Pupils have actively used apps to adopt changes to their lifestyles, particularly around diet and exercise – although one pupil even found an app to better treat his mum’s eczema."