Pupils have received an award for their school after learning about the dangers of drug and alcohol misuse.

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Children at St Stephen's Primary School in Heath Town were presented with a Health and Wellbeing Award for raising awareness of substance misuse - becoming the first school in the city to do so.

St Stephen's demonstrated to Wolverhampton City Council's Healthy Schools Team that it had met a series of targets on the issue of substance misuse, including the quality of leadership and management in school, curriculum provision, training for staff and engaging with pupils and parents.

Members of the Healthy Schools Team visited St Stephen's on a number of occasions to monitor progress, and found that staff were delivering an excellent level of education on the subject. They noted that pupils of all ages were fully involved, taking part in projects such as competitions to design posters highlighting the dangers of substance misuse.

Councillor Sandra Samuels, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, presented the award and said: "It is very important that our young people are made aware at a very early age of the dangers posed by drugs, alcohol and smoking.

"This award recognises the commitment staff at St Stephen's have made to educate their pupils about substance misuse - and also the hard work children have put in on the subject.

"The Healthy Schools Team have been really impressed with their efforts, particularly with the ability of pupils to articulate the dangers that drugs, alcohol and tobacco pose.

"St Stephen's is the first school in the city to receive this award for raising awareness of substance misuse - and I hope it will be the first of many."

Wayne Downing, Executive Headteacher of St Stephen's Primary School, said: "Raising awareness of substance misuse is a really important part of the Personal, Social and Health Education curriculum here at St Stephen's, and I am immensely proud of the achievements of our pupils and staff in achieving this award."

  • released: Tuesday 26 May, 2015