But a teacher involved in trial viewings of the 22-minute video about Rachel's demise tells BBC News Online why it is wrong to think the video is just about shocking images.

Last autumn 20 sixth formers at Lady Hawkins School in Kington, Herefordshire were asked to watch the video, Rachel's Story, to see how they responded to the contents.

The power of it is in her story - not just the photographs

Jim Rogers, teacher

"At the end of the tape, the students just sat there in stunned silence for two or three minutes," said head of sixth form Jim Rogers.

But Mr Rogers believes that what makes the film so stunning is the way in which it draws viewers into Rachel's life.

He said: "The most powerful part of the video is the 20 minutes finding out about her life from high school onwards.

"Her life is described through the eyes of her friends and family - you see her playing the piano, you hear how she and a friend talked about having children when they were older.

The hard-hitting police images of Rachel come at the end of the video

"So by the end of those 20 minutes, anyone who's watched it will feel they know her and can relate very easily to her and to her friends.

"The police photos of Rachel's body found in a bedsit after she'd been dead for two or three days then come at the end.

"That's why it's so effective, because you feel you know her.

"The power of it is in her story - not just the photographs," he said.

Council production

Rachel's Story has been produced by Herefordshire County Council, with the help and support of the student's parents Pauline and Michael Holcroft.

"We're still in the process of putting together the support material which teachers will have when they deliver the video," said director of education Eddie Oram.

"We are still carrying out the final editing of the video itself so it has the most impact."

Mr Rogers welcomed the Department for Education's plans to issue the video to all secondary schools in England.

"It got the clear thumbs up from our students and we would definitely show it further down the school.

"It will be a very successful campaign - yes, it's very shocking, but mainly because you feel you know the girl."