THE voices of over 100 pupils from 18 primary schools across Cornwall rang through the County Hall in Truro during the Promoting Active Democracy Loudly (PADL) award ceremony.

Pupils from primary schools across Cornwall, including Stratton Primary School, St Stephens Community Academy in Launceston, Delaware Primary Academy and Upton Cross Primary School.

Egloskerry, Coads Green and Pensilva Primary Schools were unable to attend the PADL awards event in Truro.

The PADL scheme has four levels, with school councils of pupil parliaments able to gain a PADL award for their work at ‘Bronze’, ‘Silver’, ‘Gold’ or ‘Platinum’ level.

Accreditation for the award focuses on four main categories, that each of the schools had to complete in order to receive their award, those categories are; school council procedures, school council links within the school, school council links beyond the school, school council activities.

The scheme was previously run by children’s charity Barnardos until the work was taken over in 2012 by the Cornwall Healthy Schools team.

The children from each of the 18 schools, including those from the Post’s area, were welcomed into County Hall by the chairman of Cornwall Council, Ann Kerridge, for the awards ceremony and to give presentations.

Andrew Wallis, the lead member and portfolio holder for young people, presented each school with their bronze, silver, gold or platinum award.

Each school was awarded a PADL for their work in encouraging effective student voice and leadership in their schools.

Before the award ceremony, Cllr Kerridge said: “I am looking forward to meeting the children and staff and celebrating the wonderful work of school councils in Cornwall.”

The PADL project was set up be member of the ‘Cornwall Youth Forum’ in 2001 to provide a set of standards for primary school councils to guide and measure the effectiveness of student voice, representation and leadership skills within their school.

Mr Wallis said: “These schools have done a great job in developing the confidence and skills of their pupils to become responsible citizens for the future.

“I would like to congratulate the teachers, parents and carers, and the young people themselves on their achievements.”

The results of the award ceremony were: Stratton Primary School, Egloskerry Primary School and St Stephens Community Academy, Launceston, all received the bronze award.

Coads Green Primary School, Pensilva Primary School, Delaware Primary School and Upton Cross Primary School all received their gold award.