BART, a friendly seven-year-old Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen, has taken up residence at St Benedict's School in Ealing.

He is more than happy to meet pupils of all ages – at break, at lunchtime and whenever they have a spare five minutes to come in and say hello.

Bart is doing a great job in calming exam nerves, which seems to confirm Sir Anthony Seldon’s view that “every school should have a dog or another pet to reduce stress”.

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The University of Buckingham vice-chancellor said: "The evidence is very clear that it works and every single school - primary, secondary, special - should have dogs.”

Education Secretary Damian Hinds has noted that more schools seem to have wellbeing dogs.

"At first, I was a bit surprised, but actually it's a great thing,” he said.