30 Jun 2023
CPR education facts and figures - nationwide
In England, teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is part of the Health Education curriculum for secondary school students and is recommended for students aged 12+. It states that pupils should know life-saving skills, including how to administer CPR and the purpose of defibrillators and when one might be needed.
Every local authority in Scotland has committed to teach CPR to their secondary school pupils.
In 2021, the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill passed into law. The Welsh Government agreed to include lifesaving skills in the statutory guidance as part of this process. This means CPR will be taught in Welsh schools from 2022.
At key stages 3 and 4 for the Northern Ireland Curriculum the links with the concept of personal health are strong: “develop preventative strategies in relation to accidents in the home, school and on the road, for example knowing what to do in the event of cuts, burns, fire and emergency first aid etc.” From the 2022/23 academic year all pupils in Northern Ireland aged 11-14 should be provided with CPR training as part of the school curriculum.