Pupils take a stand against the bullies

Rebecca Taylor
May 29
2 min read

Pupils from Coppice Performing Arts School have become Anti-Bullying Ambassadors after completing a highly respected training programme.

Ten pupils from the Wolverhampton school, along with two members of staff, took part in the programme run by The Diana Award, working alongside other 11 to 18-year-olds to build their skills and confidence to address situations, both off and online.

The Diana Award’s free Anti-Bullying Ambassador Programme, which is available to schools across the UK, sees facilitators working with students and other young people to change attitudes around bullying.

It has a strong peer-to-peer focus, with facilitators giving young people the tools they need to become Anti-Bullying Ambassadors and to tackle bullying in their own schools long after the training has finished. The Diana Award’s anti-bullying work is recognised as world-class thanks to this sustainable approach.

The training looked at bullying in different situations, with pupils making action plans of how to approach bullying issues that may arise in their schools.

Headteacher Claire Gilbert said: "We’re incredibly proud of our students for taking this initiative. Partnering with The Diana Award reinforces our commitment to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive school environment.

"Our school will be working closely with the charity over the coming years, as their values and principles align closely with our own. Together, we aim to raise awareness and stand up against bullying."

A Year 10 Anti-Bullying Ambassador at Coppice said: "The training helped us understand the impact of bullying and gave us the confidence to make a real difference in our school community."

Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: "Sadly, bullying is still a prevalent issue amongst young people and it is crucial that we collectively take steps to help prevent it.

"It is brilliant to see Coppice Performing Arts School taking a lead in this, and empowering its pupils with the skills and confidence they need to help tackle the problem."

The Diana Award was founded as a lasting legacy to Diana, Princess of Wales, who believed that young people have the power to change the world. The Anti-Bullying Ambassadors Programme has trained over 50,000 young people across the UK to lead on anti-bullying campaigns in their schools.