We are incredibly proud of the Shiplake College students selected to represent the College as part of the prestigious 2026 Young Anti-Bullying Ambassador cohort, a national programme recognising young people who are passionate about promoting kindness, inclusion and pupil voice within school communities.
On Tuesday 10 March, three of our pupils, M Bayley, J Colligan and Audrey Edimoh, travelled to London to take part in an Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) regional ambassador day, joining fellow students from across the country. As part of their year-long ambassador journey, the visit was an opportunity to collaborate, share ideas and explore how pupils themselves can help shape positive culture within schools — reinforcing values-led, approaches.
The day featured a series of workshops and discussions focused on topics including online behaviour, the impact of social media, and ways young people can lead meaningful change. Reflecting on the experience, M Bayley said: “The trip was very informative and fun, and I learnt a lot about bullying and the impact of social media. I very much enjoyed discussing the issue of lowering the social media minimum age to sixteen, and I found it very exciting meeting officials from the Department for Education.”
A particular highlight was the opportunity for students to speak directly with members of the Department for Education’s Pupil Mental Wellbeing and Engagement Team. Our ambassadors contributed thoughtfully to conversations around pupil voice, digital life and wellbeing, with their reflections helping to inform the development of the forthcoming national Pupil Engagement Framework.
J Colligan found these discussions especially valuable: “The staff who talked to us showed us all the effects and the problems, helping me fully understand what people may feel. When the Department for Education talked to us about the phone ban, it allowed me to see both the positives and flaws of owning a phone at this age and the effect it has on me and others.”
The ambassadors’ involvement at this level is an exceptional achievement, and their contributions will support national thinking on how schools foster belonging and support students’ everyday experiences. Throughout the year, the students will continue their ambassador work through a range of training opportunities, including anti-bullying education, media training and social media campaigning. The skills developed will help shape a nationwide Anti-Bullying Week campaign, ensuring that young people remain central to the conversation.
Audrey Edimoh highlighted the value of collaboration with pupils from other schools: “The Anti-Bullying Alliance meeting offered me a great opportunity to learn about how to identify and stop bullying. We discussed this topic with other schools, some local and some as far as Manchester. It was an amazing experience that taught me how to manage bullying.”
This work sits alongside Shiplake College’s continued commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive community. As part of this proactive approach, the College is currently engaging with the United Against Bullying (UAB) Programme, working in partnership with the Anti-Bullying Alliance. Following whole-school and parent surveys, a tailored United Against Bullying Action Plan is being developed to reflect the specific needs, strengths and priorities of the Shiplake community. The programme focuses on prevention, early intervention and education, drawing on pupil, staff and parent voice to inform best practice. Our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors will play an important role in supporting this work, ensuring that student perspectives remain central.
We are immensely proud of the empathy, maturity and leadership shown by our ambassadors. Their voices are already contributing to meaningful change — locally and nationally — and we look forward to seeing the positive impact they will continue to make throughout the year and beyond.
