A PEER support service aimed at getting young people at a South Lakeland school to open up about bullying has expanded to take on new recruits.

Queen Katherine School's (QKS) anti-bullying ambassadors have volunteered their lunch times to listen to students who might need support.

Project leader Joy Eggleston said that any concerns raised with the ambassadors are then recorded and referred to herself or a head of year.

"Sometimes children will open up more to other children and especially if they've been through a similar experience," she said. "It's also good that they see other children wanting to help.

"It's good that they can find other peers that will listen to them and that they feel safe talking to the ambassadors."

Placed in special measures after its latest Ofsted report, bullying was highlighted as a concern by inspectors with 'too many' older pupils saying they experienced bullying and some pupils wanting school leaders to take more effective action to deal with it.

As part of its Ofsted action plan, the school said it would raise awareness of bullying every week in assembly and appoint 'anti-bullying champions' for each key Stage who would work with ambassadors.

It has also begun to utilise 'Whisper' on its website, a tool that allows students to anonymously report unpleasant behaviour or bullying.

Although head teacher Jon Hayes said that the ambassadors have been in place for a couple of years, the project has expanded to get more students on board and extra training has been provided.

"I think it's important for two reasons," he said. "First of all it allows some of our older students to give something back to the school community to help out and support the younger ones and also it gives the younger students an extra way of reporting any concerns they may have."

Zak Robinson, year 11 and Seren Callaghan, year 7, are two of the school's ambassadors who both have personal reasons for wanting to help.

"I've been bullied throughout secondary school so I decided since I've been bullied I want to help other kids who have been as well," Zak said.

And Seren, who was badly bullied during primary school said she would have 'loved' to have had a similar service available to her.

"I thought in secondary school I should help other people to not be sad throughout the years and then I thought if I can help other people then this school could be a better place.

"Throughout the years I'll probably continue signing up for it because I really enjoy helping other people and making them smile."