Drinking water gradually throughout the day means the brain is rehydrated and that boosts the capacity to learn

Claire Barker

Water fountains have been installed in the canteen and boys' and girls' toilets, the main school corridor now has a mineral water vending machine and the sixth form block and staff room have water coolers.

Claire Barker, the school's literacy and learning co-ordinator, said the 700-pupil school made the decision after studying research which showed water helped children's brains to function better.

Even staff are getting into the water habit

"Drinking water gradually throughout the day means the brain is rehydrated and that boosts the capacity to learn.

"Obviously we can't stop parents from putting fizzy drinks in packed lunches, but there are no fizzy drinks machines in school now - and we used to have three," said Miss Barker.

And, with a water cooler in the staff room, it is not just the pupils who are taking the water message to heart.

"It's good to educate staff to get off the coffee and drink more water," said Miss Barker.

Water bottles

Some primary school children in Southampton are being given their own water bottles to keep on their desks.

Pupils can sip away in class

Teachers at Mason Moor Primary in Millbrook said they had already noticed an improvement in pupils' concentration.

Head teacher Sue Nicholson said: "Children are beginning to appear quieter and calmer and much better able to concentrate - skills which we hope will have a marked effect on improving their education attainment."

The school brought in the water bottles for all the school's 300 pupils with a grant from the Outer Shirley regeneration budget.