A SECONDARY school is leading the way in raising awareness about intermarriage birth defects – a significant factor in infant deaths.

Herschel Grammar School, in Northampton Avenue, Slough, is the first school in Berkshire to provide education on intermarriage birth defects and the importance of genetic testing while supplying information to secondary schools across Slough and Bradford.

With 15 deaths occurring in Slough between 2012-13 in children under one year and genetic anomalies one of the main factors, the Slough Child Death Overview Panel has been investigating the issue around genetic disorders.

A local health report states there are concerns that 'inter-family couples do not have a sufficient understanding of the increased risks of having a child with a disability or of having a child die under the age of five'.

In some ethnic minority communities in Slough it is common for inter-family marriage to occur and the work the Slough Child Death Overview Panel is trying to implement is about informing people on how to best protect themselves and their babies.

Joanna Rockall, head teacher at the school and chairwoman of the panel, said: “Slough has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country so we looked at how schools could help.

“The work is about raising awareness of the risks, where you can get help and support, as well as providing information about screening.”