The hour-long session began with a drama performance portraying real-life scenarios of roadside distractions, such as mobile phones, music, and peer influence. This was followed by a workshop where students responded to questions and discussed the issues raised.

Overseeing the event was Andrea Monaghan, head of personal development, who said: “The performance was an age-appropriate but thought-provoking production which encouraged students to think carefully about road safety and take action to protect themselves from harm.

“The workshop prompted them to reflect on their responsibilities, the actions they can take, and the consequences of those actions. It also helped them to understand and recognise the difference between peer pressure and peer influence.

“As well as raising awareness of this important safety issue, it was wonderful to bring live theatre into our school and many students were keen to learn more about careers in theatre and performance.”

Student feedback about the production was equally positive, with Bethany saying: “I learned that you don’t have to listen to what other people say because that can be peer pressure or peer influence. You can make your own decisions to stay safe”.

Archie added: “I learned not to mess around near the roads because accidents can happen in a split second when you’re not paying attention.”, while Matilda said: “It was really exciting and good to do something so completely different to usual lessons.”