This testimonial is from the group of pupils from Braes High School who took part in the first pilot of The D Word. It was included in a PowerPoint presentation that they created and delivered for parents/carers and staff from Falkirk Council Education Services at an Information Evening held in Falkirk Crematorium on 11th February 2025. 

"After this experience, we as a class felt a weight off our chests after being granted the ability to maturely discuss past and future experience with deaths and funerals. 

We knew going into this how important the understanding of the topic was, and were all relieved to witness first-hand the professionalism and understanding from those in this industry, especially their ability to closely connect with families respectfully. 

Overall, we feel the pilot has graced us with a better understanding of what happens when a loved one dies."

The following is feedback from pupils from Carrongrange High School (for pupils with additional support needs), following The D Word sessions between March and June 2025:

 “It was the best. I enjoyed getting to know about funerals.” 

 “I feel so alive, talking about death!”

“The best thing was doing the funeral in the Church.”

“The best thing I learned was that the cremation machine goes up to 1,000 degrees, The bones turn into ash.”

“If a relative dies, I will know what will actually happen.”

This is feedback from the teachers involved in this:

“This is so important, we need to be able to talk about death – it’s part of life.”

“I will remember these experiences for the rest of my life, and I am sure it’s the same for the pupils. When someone dies, I will remember what we did, and that will be so helpful.”

"All pupils in Scotland should be entitled to learn about death."

"At the end of The D Word sessions, the pupils all seemed to be more comfortable speaking about death."

The D Word at Castle Douglas High School December 2025 - Measuring Impact Forms - Feedback

It has been good to see what you can do for someone whilst grieving etc and how to look after yourself too.  

It was helpful to learn what people need to have in place such as Power of Attorney and Advanced Directives, Wills etc and to learn about what actually happens during an ordinary death, as opposed to what we are shown in the movies or on TV. It was good to find out that deaths on TV are usually overdramatised compared to what actually happens in real life. The Kathryn Mannix TED talk was memorable. 

It was good to learn that the Death Rattle (often heard when someone is near the end of their life) is actually just the noise of saliva bubbling gently in the throat of someone who is in a completely unconscious and peaceful state. It is reassuring to hear that when we hear this sound coming from our loved one, which can be upsetting, there is absolutely no pain being felt. 

The most popular part of the course was the visit to Bendalls Funeral Directors ~ seeing what happens behind the scenes, hearing what a Funeral Director does and understanding what tends to happen after someone dies. Pupils are glad to have been told about different options for saying goodbye and how funerals are changing over time. 

Every pupil was 100% in favour of recommending the course to other pupils (as well as staff). Pupils stated that it is important for it to be introduced in such a comfortable and understanding way to prepare them for when this happens to them. They are pleased to now know what happens at a funeral, if they haven't experienced it already.  

The overall message is that it was a very valuable experience for them.