BISHOPSTONE Primary pupils were able to rub shoulders with royalty yesterday as they met the Duke of Cambridge at the launch of a new classroom confidence-building programme.

The new award, run by SkillForce, will be called the Prince William Award Programme which aims to help children build character, confidence and resilience in school.

The award scheme is the first of its kind aimed at children aged six to 14 and pupils at Bishopstone Primary School were able to meet the man behind the programme yesterday after being involved in the pilot since the start of the academic year.

Emma Lindsay, headteacher, said: “It’s an amazing, once in a lifetime, opportunity for our pupils to meet Prince William and certainly an experience that I am sure they will remember for the rest of their lives.

“Schools need to prepare children from a young age to thrive in a rapidly changing world and educate them on how they relate to themselves, others and their communities. That’s the great thing about the Prince William Award programme, and it’s fantastic that it is reaching primary school pupils at an early age.

"It teaches them key skills that, once instilled, will remain with them for life from first aid to in-depth problem solving.”

The duke, who is SkillForce’s Royal Patron, launched the initiative at Llanfoist Fawr Primary School in Abergavenny, Wales.

During the visit, the duke took part in three of the award programme activities and with Bishopstone pupils, including a tower construction challenge that involved making a free-standing tower from marshmallows and straws within 10 minutes. The task tests teamwork, resilience and determination.

The one-year programme will start in primary and secondary schools this September 2017, following on from the pilot that began at the beginning of this academic year. The award combines practical and reflective learning through classroom-based and outdoor activities to develop character, resilience, compassion, courage, teamwork and problem solving skills.

Ben Slade chief executive of SkillForce, the organisation behind the scheme, said: “Character attributes can be developed in children and young people, given the right mentoring.

"Our ex-services personnel, who work as instructors in schools, inspire children and young people to dare to be their best selves.

"Developing personal skills is as valuable as academic study, given that character traits such as courage, cooperation, listening and problem solving can affect academic performance, psychological wellbeing and job success later in life.”