A leading school has introduced reflexology sessions to help sixth formers manage stress.

The sessions are on the timetable for pupils at Colchester County High School for Girls.

They will complement other methods already in place in the school for managing stress.

A school spokesman said pupils, particularly those coming up to GCSE exams and in the sixth form, had various stress management modules included in their personal and social education programme of study.

These include going to Aqua Springs at Colchester's Leisure World. The idea for half-hour reflexology sessions came from former high school pupil Lynette Allen, 26, who is now a registered member of the Association of Natural Medicine.

Reflexology is said to create a sense of total relaxation through stimulating reflex points on the feet.

She said: "I remember when I was a student at the school I would have been grateful to take half an hour out of my studies to calm down and relax."

"It seemed such a good idea to offer it to young adults studying as they are the ones who seem to be stressed all the time. They are under quite a level of pressure all the time."

Lynette, 26, who had kept in contact with the school since leaving, had offered the service and head Elizabeth Ward thought it a lovely idea.

The school spokesman said: "Stress management modules are an approach to lifestyles and look at stress in all its aspects not just at exam time."

The half-hour sessions have been greeted with surprise and interest from pupils.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.