School hires masseuse to ease stress

WESTON-SUPER-MARE, England, May 1 (UPI) -- A Weston-super-Mare, England, school has hired a masseuse as part of a scheme to raise General Certificate of Education test scores.

Priory Community School is offering 30-minute massages to students to help them relax and prepare for the tests, The Daily Mail reported Thursday.

"This is a high-pressure time for Year 11 students," said Headmaster Neville Coles. "They work extremely hard and do get stressed. We have basically employed a masseuse to come in for a day. It is a mechanism to de-stress the kids and improve their exam results. At a time when we are constantly encouraging our year 11 students to be at their very best … we also want to provide relaxation activities."

Coles said the massage sessions have helped the school's rugby team become county champions.