Anti-Bullying week took place this year from Monday 11 to Friday 15 November and students and teachers from Carshalton High School for Girls took part, by promoting kindness through a wide range of activities.

The school are part of the Diana Award Anti-Bullying programme whose core focus is to empower young people to change the world.

Established in 1999 in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, this Award is a prestigious accolade bestowed on young people aged 9-25 in recognition of their social action or humanitarian work.

Carshalton High School are part of the Diana Award Anti-Bullying Ambassador training programmes and in October, ten students from Carshalton High School attended one of these training sessions, which focuses on helping young people develop the skills and confidence to tackle bullying in their schools.

Maurice Devenney, Headteacher, said: “Carshalton High School for Girls is fully committed to promoting and celebrating a culture of kindness. 

“We know that students and staff feel better about themselves when they do good deeds for others.  Our School is an integral part of the community and we hope that the work we do not just this week but also in the future will benefit everyone. 

“Throughout the week our students have once again excelled; demonstrating their commitment to an environment free from harm by writing kindness notes to each other, raising money for Children In Need, holding assemblies on kindness as well as the introduction of our Anti-Bullying ambassadors.”

During the week, one of the key events was to establish a ‘Kindness Charter’ which all students and staff signed and is now displayed in their main corridor. The ‘Kindness Charter’ details their pledge to be actively kind and the actions we expect our students and staff to promote.

Luke Conduit-Smith, Deputy Head Teacher, said: “The Kindness Charter is a commitment by all members of our school community to ensure we work and learn in an environment where we can all be respected.

“I am very proud of the work of the students and staff and their dedication to ensuring we have a culture of kindness at CHSG.”

To end the week, two kindness’ trees were planted to act as a visible symbol for students and staff and to remind them that kindness grows just like trees.

Bella Gush, one of the Carshalton High School Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, said: “'To me, planting the kindness tree shows how kindness blooms and grows within the school.”