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| GCSE pupils test fish oil claims | GCSE pupils test fish oil claims |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| About 5,000 secondary school pupils are to be offered daily doses of fish oil supplements in the hope it will have a direct impact on exam results. | About 5,000 secondary school pupils are to be offered daily doses of fish oil supplements in the hope it will have a direct impact on exam results. |
| All Year 11 pupils in County Durham will be encouraged to take the omega-3 "eye q" pills until their GCSE examinations in summer 2007. | All Year 11 pupils in County Durham will be encouraged to take the omega-3 "eye q" pills until their GCSE examinations in summer 2007. |
| The initiative is the brainchild of the county council's chief schools inspector Dave Ford. | The initiative is the brainchild of the county council's chief schools inspector Dave Ford. |
| But charity Food and Behaviour Research said more research was needed. | But charity Food and Behaviour Research said more research was needed. |
| Mr Ford is convinced the fatty oils can improve concentration and learning. | Mr Ford is convinced the fatty oils can improve concentration and learning. |
| He said: "We are able to track pupils' progress and we can measure whether their attainments are better than their predicted scores." | He said: "We are able to track pupils' progress and we can measure whether their attainments are better than their predicted scores." |
| A first indication of the supplement's effectiveness will be when the children sit their mock GCSEs in December. | A first indication of the supplement's effectiveness will be when the children sit their mock GCSEs in December. |
| 'Improved concentration' | 'Improved concentration' |
| The initiative has won the backing of county councillors, who said they were committed to improving children's life chances. | |
| Four years ago the county council ran a trial for younger pupils, which saw 12 schools offer the eye q supplement to pupils aged six to 12 as part of a controlled study. | Four years ago the county council ran a trial for younger pupils, which saw 12 schools offer the eye q supplement to pupils aged six to 12 as part of a controlled study. |
| Significant improvements were seen in attention, hyperactivity and short-term memory. Achievements in reading and spelling were also highly significant. | Significant improvements were seen in attention, hyperactivity and short-term memory. Achievements in reading and spelling were also highly significant. |
| Claire Vasey, cabinet member for children and young people's services, said: "We have been leading the way in researching the effects of omega-3 supplementation on children's behaviour and learning. | Claire Vasey, cabinet member for children and young people's services, said: "We have been leading the way in researching the effects of omega-3 supplementation on children's behaviour and learning. |
| "If we can improve the concentration of some of our children with this initiative, then they will benefit even more from the opportunities presented to them in our schools. | "If we can improve the concentration of some of our children with this initiative, then they will benefit even more from the opportunities presented to them in our schools. |
| "These are the valuable experiences that will have a great impact on determining their future." | "These are the valuable experiences that will have a great impact on determining their future." |
| But Dr Alex Richardson of Food and Behaviour Research said some pupils should take dummy pills to determine whether supplements improved performance generally. | But Dr Alex Richardson of Food and Behaviour Research said some pupils should take dummy pills to determine whether supplements improved performance generally. |
| She said: "Proper trials of omega-3 have shown benefits for some children. However, the real burning question is whether they will help children in general. | She said: "Proper trials of omega-3 have shown benefits for some children. However, the real burning question is whether they will help children in general. |
| "The Durham project is taking for granted that fish oils will help. There is no control and there must be a placebo. | "The Durham project is taking for granted that fish oils will help. There is no control and there must be a placebo. |
| "You cannot give omega-3 to every child and then say that the supplements have made a difference." | "You cannot give omega-3 to every child and then say that the supplements have made a difference." |