STUDENTS across East Dorset have vowed to "think positively" as part of 'no put down week'.

Staff and pupils penned positive compliments for each other as part of the initiative, while posters were displayed throughout schools.

Young people from Ferndown Upper School worked with pupils at Parley First School, Ferndown First School, Verwood First School, Emmanuel Middle School, Ferndown Middle School and West Moors Middle School as part of the campaign.

Sarah Bird, assistant headteacher at Ferndown Upper School, said students have held the event for several years.

"We want to celebrate the positive aspects of the Ferndown school community and encourage the students and staff to achieve their best," she said.

"The event is designed to help raise self-esteem and create a happy, positive, anti-bullying ethos of valuing each other in the school and in the community.

"When we ran the event last year, all the schools and students said they felt happier in school and achieved more highly as a result.

"It was very powerful."

During the event, students were rewarded for their positivity.

Special assembles also took place at the schools.

Ms Bird said participants focused on "social, moral, spiritual and cultural" benefits during the week.

"We're celebrating all the positive aspects of our school," she said.

"We all know that sinking feeling when someone has mocked us or ‘made a joke’.

"We either hit back with an equally witty put-down or try to avoid being put in that position again.

"It is also a positive assertive strategy to counteract bullying.

"We find students really like it. We ask the whole school not to put themselves or anyone else down for the whole week and instead try to praise someone each day.

"We hope this will spill over to students' home lives."

One of the upper school's year 10 students said: "After being in a positive, 'no put down' environment for a few days you start to constantly think in a positive way.

"Putting someone down doesn't cross your mind.

"By thinking and acting positively you can take more away from lessons and so can your fellow classmates.

"Effectively, positive people learn more."