The Diana Anti-Bullying Award, named in honour of Princess Diana, recognises the work that young people of all ages do to combat the problem of bullying behaviour in and outside of schools.
Students from Priory School (Lewes), All Saints CE Junior School (Hastings), Helenswood School (Hastings), West St Leonards CP School, Bexhill High School, St Richard's Catholic College (Bexhill) and Chailey School will receive the award at a ceremony at Ashburnum Place, Battle, on Thursday 18 March.
They were put forward for the award by their schools to recognise the great work they do in working with their class mates to look at bullying and how it should be dealt with.
Cecy Kemp, headteacher at All Saints school put 18 of her students forward in recognition of their creative ideas in looking at friendship problems and how this can lead to bullying. The school has peer mediators, members of the student body who help their classmates to work through problems together,
Mrs Kemp said: “We are delighted at the ongoing recognition of proactive anti-bullying work at the school. Our peer mediators form part of a team response to reducing conflict and bullying and provide an essential service to all our pupils. The skills they have developed as mediators are lifelong skills that will hopefully impact positively on their secondary schools and their neighbourhoods of the future. The school is already seeking funding to allow new Year 5 pupils to be trained as mediators to carry on this vital work.”
John Khan, Head of the Anti-Bullying Team in East Sussex, said: “These awards provide us with a real opportunity to celebrate the work young people do to address bullying behaviour who are making a real difference to the lives of others.”
Maggie Turner, Chief Executive of the Diana Award, who will be presenting the awards says: “We are delighted to present the Diana Anti-Bullying Award to these young people for their commitment to tackle bullying in schools across East Sussex. The award help shines a light on the positive work young people do to help eradicate bullying. We know that young people carry this lifetime honour with pride and a sense of duty as active citizens for the rest of their lives.”
Councillor David Elkin, the County Council's Lead Member for Learning and School Effectiveness said: “Too often young people don't get the recognition they deserve. The Diana Award provides a real opportunity to focus on their achievements and spurs them on to do even more and everyone who receives the award is an outstanding young person”.
For more about the work the County Council's Anti-Bullying Team does visit our Bullying pages.
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